MAN CITY 2, TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM 1
Leroy Sane showed to the German nation just what they missed by his surprise omission from their World Cup squad.
The winger scored both of City’s goals and terrorised the Hoffenheim defence as City’s victory sealed top spot in Champions League group F.
Embed from Getty ImagesSane produced a stand-out display as City battled from behind as in the opening period they were still suffering a reaction to Saturday’s first loss of the season at Chelsea.
While Sane impressed Pep Guardiola, it was 18-year-old local lad Phil Foden who caught the eye of the City manager even more after he made a rare start.
Guardiola said: “England has a diamond for the future and it was incredible the way he played.
“Few players can play regularly aged 18 and it is not easy for him when we have David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, (Ilkay) Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
“He looks like a skinny kid, but he plays like a man and is so strong.
“It was not only his quality, but the way he plays, crosses, shoots. He is outstanding.”
Guardiola described it as “incredible” to be in the top 16 teams in Europe given the strength of the group.
“I am happy all four English clubs have won through and it is good for the Premier League. It is an outstanding success as the competition is so demanding,” he said.
Guardiola admitted City’s performance was “flat” at the start as they fell behind.
City’s manager was happy with the response hitting the woodwork twice in the opening half and creating many counter attacks.
“If there was any criticism, we need to be more precise in the future,” he said.
Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann was “proud” of the club’s debut season in the Champions League, even though they finished bottom of their league.
“Three points does not sum up how we played. Our performances have improved over the group stage,” he said.
City made five changes from the side that lost at Chelsea, though David Silva has a muscular injury that Guardiola said could keep him out for “a few weeks”.
And with other players carrying knocks and not risked, Guardiola claimed he had only 15 fit senior players.
Silva was joined on the sidelines by Fernandinho while Kyle Walker, Fabian Delph and Riyad Mahrez were on the bench.
Called up Nicolas Otamendi and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defence, Gundogan and Foden in midfield and Gabriel Jesus up front.
Hoffenheim, without a win in Group H, started brightly and had two early chances that fell to Florian Grillitsch and Andrej Kramaric.
The German side would have taken the lead but for superb save from City keeper Ederson to deny Kramaric whose shot was bending into the top corner of the net.
It was only a temporary reprieve as City conceded a penalty after quarter of a hour when Aymeric Laporte climbed all over Benjamin Hubner.
Kramaric sent Ederson the wrong way from the spot as he scored in a seventh successive game for Hoffenheim.
City were stung into action and had two great chances to equalise in quick succession when Jesus’ header struck an upright and John Stones forced a decent save from keeper Oliver Baumann following Gundogan’s free kick.
City were denied by the frame of the goal for a second time when Hoffenheim’s Brazilian Jolinton headed against his own crossbar from Gundogan’s free kick.
The equaliser came in stoppage time after Jesus was fouled nearly 30 yards from goal and Sane struck a delightful free kick over the defensive wall and beyond the despairing dive of Baumann.
City made a change at the break as John Stones, who had a torrid time at right back, was hauled off and replaced by Walker.
Guardiola’s side was a different proposition in the second period and far more switched on compared to the lack-lustre opening period.
But City contrived to have one of the misses of the season in the 56th minute following a 3 v 1 breakaway.
Raheem Sterling, Sane and Bernardo Silva sprinted clear and after a neat interchange of passes, Silva failed to convert as a defender got back with a great covering block.
Hoffenheim remained a threat and substitute Reiss Nelson, the Arsenal loanee, had a great chance but his shot was kept out by the legs of Ederson.
City took the lead for the first time just after the hour when Sane found the net for a second time after playing a return pass with Sterling and producing some nifty footwork before finding the net.
Guardiola made a second change mid-half when Delph took over from Zinchenko at left back.
Foden almost capped another impressive display with a stunning goal as his volley from Sterling’s cross was superbly tipped over the bar by Baumann.
Sterling missed a sitter with six minutes left contriving to shoot wide from a right-wing cross by Foden.
City made their last change when Bernardo Silva was replaced by Vincent Kompany as they managed the latter stages well when Hoffenheim were pressing for an equaliser.