SHAKHTAR DONETSK 2, MANCHESTER CITY 1
Shakhtar Donetsk became the first club to beat Manchester City this season, winning 2-1 in Kharkiv to qualify for the knock-out stage of the Champions League after Napoli lost 2-1 at 10-man Feyenoord.
First half goals by Bernard and Ismaily set a motivated Shakhtar on their way to inflicting the first defeat on City since April 5 this year, and while Sergio Aguero’s injury time penalty gave City hope of another miracle, boss Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League game ended with the demise of City’s record 20 game winning run even though they had already qualified for the knock-out stage.
It should have been a night for City’s youngsters and fringe players to try and stake their claim for first team action but instead it was a night to forget for most of them.
Phil Foden was one of City’s better performers but made his first start for City slightly out of position as a left wing-back as Pep Guardiola opted for a 3-4-3 formation with Danilo playing as the right wing-back.
Guardiola had made six changes to the side that beat West Ham 2-1 on Sunday with Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne (who was suspended), Fabian Delph, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero getting a rest but the depleted team struggled against a lively Shakhtar side.
Tosin Adarabioyo, making his fourth City appearance on the night, was joined in a three man back line by Fernandinho and Eliaquim Mangala. Also coming into City’s side were Yaya Toure, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus.
Toure and Gundogan anchored the midfield while a pacy trio of Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, and Bernardo Silva started up front in an attacking if experimental side for City but their midfield was overrun by the Ukrainians who made misfiring City suffer all night.
Marlos bent in a shot on his left foot which was an easy save for Ederson but it was clear since the start that Shakhtar needed the result more than City, who were already through, did.
After a mistake littered opening period for City Shakhtar took a firm grip on the game after building up a head of steam against Guardiola’s makeshift team and could have had a hatful of goals after City’s soft centre left their defence open to attack.
Shakhtar’s Bernard curled the opener into the top corner past Ederson after 26 minutes after Danilo left the Brazilian too much space.
Bernard could have had another but for a fine save by Ederson following a mistake by Mangala.
Ederson made a rare mistake after charging out of his area to try and nick the ball from Ismaily but the young goalkeeper missed the ball and his fellow Brazilian skipped past him and fired into the empty net after 32 minutes.
City almost pulled one back through Gabriel Jesus after Foden slid him through but Andriy Pyatov saved.
City improved in the second half and chances came for Sane and Fernandinho before both were withdrawn with the Manchester derby in mind, and substitute Brahim Diaz – making only his third appearance for City – crossed for Gabriel Jesus who was denied by the woodwork before the Brazilian was fouled in injury time.
Sergio Aguero converted the penalty to keep up City’s scoring record on the road but it was too late for the makeshift Blues to perform another late late show.
With a game at Old Trafford waiting on Sunday this will be a result to quickly forget.