Thursday 21 July 2016

City lost pep first game in charge.


Manchester City suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday in Pep Guardiola's first match in charge.

The new City boss fielded six teenagers in his starting line-up, but his former club won the game at the Allianz Arena thanks to Erdal Ozturk's deflected strike 14 minutes from time.

Bayern dominated the first half and only three smart saves from goalkeeper Willy Caballero kept City in the match.

Guardiola's side improved after half-time and went close through substitutes Yaya Toure, Bersant Celina and Wilfried Bony, but managed just one shot on target over the 90 minutes.

For City, attention now turns to the International Champions Cup and a pre-season meeting with Jose Mourinho's Manchester United on Monday, while Bayern take on SpVgg Landshut on Saturday.
A youthful City side showed their inexperience early on when Franck Ribery was allowed to break free and tee up Bernat, but his low cross failed to pick out Julian Green.

The hosts continued to control proceedings and only an inspired first-half display by Caballero prevented Bayern from running riot.

The City goalkeeper made three instinctive stops, first denying David Alaba after a fine exchange involving Ribery, before then twice saving from Green when the USA international looked well placed to score.
City attacks were scarce, with Guardiola's side limited to a couple of half-chances for new City signing Oleksandr Zinchenko and striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

The visitors looked more dangerous after the interval and almost went ahead when Bony headed Angelino's cross just wide at the near post.
Bayern opened the scoring five minutes later, making the most of good fortune to spoil City's clean sheet.

Tosin Adarabioyo's clearance hit the referee and fell to Ozturk, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Gael Clichy and wrong-footed substitute goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who had replaced Caballero at half-time.

Toure went close from a free-kick as City responded well to going behind, but Guardiola's side struggled to break down Bayern's defence.

Their final opportunity fell to Celina after bright work by Bony, but the young winger hesitated in the box, allowing Bayern to scramble back and clear his deflected effort.

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