MAN CITY 2, SSC NAPOLI 1
Pep Guardiola praised Manchester City’s Champions League victory against SSC Napoli describing it as one of the best wins of his managerial career, even though it proved far harder than they can ever have imagined.
But impressed Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri believes City can go all the way and win the Champions League.
Two goals to the good after 13 minutes through goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, they could and should have been 4-0 ahead in a whirlwind opening half hour.
Napoli survived the onslaught and gained a toehold back in the game through an Amadou Diawara penalty – they had earlier missed another spot kick – to set up a nervy finish in what turned out to be an absorbing game in group F.
City, with three wins out of three and almost certain to secure their place in the knockout phase, again played some enthralling football.
But there was also a fragile side as the Serie A leaders, who had never won away to an English tam in European competition, posed questions not asked of City so far in the current campaign.
City’s manager paid tribute to Napoli describing them as an “exceptional team”.
He said: “We won against an incredible team and if we had not played a fantastic game we would not have won.
“It was an extraordinary performance against one of the best teams in Europe, and it is one of the proudest wins of my career as Napoli had won eight games out of eight in Italy.”
Guardiola said his side’s football was “fast and dynamic in a really good first half” but, 2-0 ahead, they were unable to finish more of their counter attacks.
He added there were still “good moments” in the second half but he expected Napoli to hit back as they are as exceptional team.
Sarri was fulsome in his praise of City saying: “It is a great team. It has everything, quick, tactically savvy.
“If they stay in good physical and mental shape, I believe they can go all the way.”
City, unsurprisingly, kept the same starting line up from Saturday’s 7-2 demolition of Stoke City.
Napoli, with eight Serie A wins out of eight, rested Brazilian midfielders Allan and Jorginho as they have a top-of-the-table clash against Inter Milan on Saturday.
City made an early breakthrough taking a ninth-minute lead through Sterling following a sweeping move.
David Silva cut the ball back, Kyle Walker’s initial shot was blocked and Sterling fired home the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.
And it was 2-0 in the 13th minute when Jesus could hardly miss from five yards after Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a delightful low cross, also for his eighth of the campaign.
City almost made it three inside 25 minutes when De Bruyne’s shot from 25 yards hit the underside of the bar and bounced out. It followed a cut back from Sane.
Napoli had another let off moments later when Jesus’ shot was only partially blocked by keeper Pepe Reina with Kalidou Koulibaly clearing off the goalline.
The Italians were handed a route back into the game in the 37th minute when they won a penalty after Kyle Walker hauled down Raul Albiol as he went to meet a cross.
They failed to capitalise as Dries Mertens’ spot kick down the middle of the goal was saved by legs of Ederson with the loose ball scrambled to safety.
Napoli regrouped at the break and were well set up defensively while at the opposite end they pressed City’s back line. City continued to play the ball out of defence but, due to pressure from their opponents, were forced into taking risks and making errors.
They penned City back and Fernandinho was dispossessed as Mertens drew Ederson from his goal before crossing to Marek Hamsik whose goalbound shot was superbly blocked by John Stones.
City made their first change with 21 minutes left when Sterling was replaced by Bernardo Silva.
Napoli were finally rewarded in the 72nd minute when they won a second spot kick, this time Fernandinho tripped Faouzi Ghoulam and Amadou Diawara made not mistake to halve the deficit.
City soon made a second change as David Silva, with head bandaged after a clash of head minutes earlier, was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan.
And City had another let off when they again gave away possession in midfield as Mertens was put clean through only to shoot wide. City made their last change with four minutes left as Jesus was replaced Danilo in a straight Brazilian swop.
They managed the game well in the latter stages to stretch their unbeaten home run in the Champions League to 11 games.