Manchester City 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1
Leroy Sane put on a masterclass performance to put his bad weekend behind him with two goals as Manchester City played themselves back into form following an early penalty setback.
Pep Guardiola had come into this Champions League game claiming he had just 15 fit senior players.
Guardiola made five changes in all from the defeat at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea with starts for Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan, Nicolas Otamendi, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Kyle Walker, and Fabian Delph stepped down to the bench while Fernandinho, David Silva, and Riyad Mahrez were left out with knocks.
City only needed a point to secure top spot in their group but were soon behind after a very sluggish start.
Andrej Kramaric’s early penalty after just 16 minutes stunned the Etihad after a clumsy challenge by Aymeric Laporte in a disjointed first half.
The Croat could have scored three minutes earlier after his curling shot was tipped away by Ederson.
City hit the post through Gabriel Jesus and crossbar from Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick which came off Joelinton’s head as they pushed for the equaliser.
They remained patient and earned their reward just before half time when Jesus had been fouled by Benjamin Hubner.
Leroy Sane stepped up and delivered another ferocious set piece that beat Baumann and flew into the right hand side of the net in injury time.
City were on top after the interval.
Baumann produced excellent saves to deny Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva after the latter had been inexplicably given the ball by Sane who was in a better shooting position.
Sane didn’t let that get to him though and put City into the lead on his own after exchanging passes with Sterling in the 61st minute.
By this time, Hoffenheim were stunned, with just a Ishak Belfodil shot saved by Ederson.
Foden volleyed over after being found by Sterling’s cross as City pushed to make the game safe with Pep Guardiola opting to secure the win with defensive substitutions late on.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1
Ederson: 7. Cool on the ball, saved early from Andrej Kramaric but went the wrong way for his penalty. Kept busy by the occasional Hoffenheim attacl.
John Stones: 6. Under early pressure at right back with a knock. Replaced by Kyle Walker at the break.
Nicolas Otamendi: 6. Loose pass out of defence almost let Hoffenheim in for a shot on goal. Turned by Kramaric who forced Ederson into an acrobatic save. His header was saved by Oliver Baumann from Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick.
Aymeric Laporte: 6. Clumsy challenge to give away the penalty from which Hoffenheim opened the scoring. Strong header in the second half might have earned City a goal.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Quiet performance. Fluffed a great chance to put City ahead when Sane unexpectedly gave the ball to him during a 3v1 attack.
Ilkay Gundogan: 8. Decent set piece taking. One such free kick was headed against his own crossbar by Joelinton and he grew into the Fernandinho role, distributing passes well in the second half.
Phil Foden: 7. Gave the ball away after trying ambitious passes but improved into the second half. Great volley tipped over by Baumann after a cross from Sterling and a tasty cross that should have been converted by Sterling.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6. As usual, better going forward than defending. Replaced by Delph as Pep tried to tighten up the defence.
Raheem Sterling: 8. Was dazed after after running into Benjamin Hubner early on. Started to test Baumann and Hubner later with more direct running. Was both wasteful and unselfish in the second half but helped Sane put City ahead and found Foden for a spectacular volley .
Gabriel Jesus: 7. Hit the post with a header from Leroy Sane’s corner. Worked hard and earned a penalty which Sane converted. Was denied by a great save from Baumann after Sterling had put him through for a run on goal. Worked hard to track back all over the pitch to win the ball back for City.
Leroy Sane: 9. Stretched his legs – and Hoffenheim – early despite enormous abuse from the away fans. Scored a superb free kick in first half injury time after Jesus had been fouled by Benjamin Hubner. Wasted a 3v1 attack by unselfishly passing to Bernardo when the shot was on but quickly learned his lesson and beat Baumann solo after 61 minutes.
Kyle Walker (for John Stones 46): 6. Gave away some free kicks to Hoffenheim.
Fabian Delph (for Oleksandr Zinchenko 64): 6. On to stiffen up the defence.
Vincent Kompany (for Bernardo Silva 85): Too late to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1
Man City 0, Hoffenheim 1: 16. Andrej Kramaric sent his penalty to the right, sending Ederson the wrong way after Benjamin Hubner was fouled by Aymeric Laporte – his 7th goal in 7 consecutive games for Hoffenheim.
Man City 1, Hoffenheim 1: 45+1. Leroy Sane’s free kick flew into the right corner after Benjamin Hubner fouled Gabriel Jesus 25 yards from goal. Sane’s 7th of the season for City.
Man City 2, Hoffenheim 1: 61. No mistake this time from Sane who touched it past Baumann with his right foot before slotting home with his left from 6 yards out after exchanging passes with Raheem Sterling.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1
Man City: Ederson, Stones (Walker 46), Otamendi, Laporte, Bernardo Silva (Kompany 85), Gundogan, Foden, Zinchenko (Delph 64), Sterling, Jesus, Sane
Man City Subs: Muric, Mahrez, Diaz, F. Nmecha
Goals: Sane 45+1, 61
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann, Nuhu, Hubner, Kaderabek, Brenet (Nelson 46), Geiger (Amiri 63), Grillitsch, Schultz, Bittencourt (Belfodil 70), Kramaric, Joelinton
TSG Hoffenheim Subs: Kobel, Bickacic, Zuber, Grifo
Booked: Grillitsch 64, Joelinton 78
Goal: Kramaric 16 pen