Atalanta 1-1 Manchester City
Manchester City will have to wait to clinch their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw against Atalanta.
The English champions, who thrashed Atalanta in Manchester, were favoured by the Champions League 2019 odds to claim three more points in Italy. But instead, they had quite a rough night, particularly their goalkeepers.
First, Ederson was taken off at half-time due to injury. Then, backup Claudio Bravo was sent off nine minutes from time. That meant right-back Kyle Walker had to come on and finish the match as their emergency keeper.
It was hardly the preparation City manager Pep Guardiola had in mind ahead of their massive matchup against Premier League title challengers Liverpool, who won their Champions League matchup against Genk.
Highlights of the game
Despite their big Liverpool clash in a few days’ time, Guardiola still fielded a strong side to face Atalanta at the San Siro. Raheem Sterling, the hat-trick hero in their 5-1 win over Atalanta in Manchester, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva all got the start with the hope of securing qualification for the knockout round.
That decision looked like a wise one as City took the lead after just seven minutes through their number seven, Raheem Sterling.
Sterling started the move himself by intercepting an errant Atalanta pass. Bernardo Silva then played the ball into Gabriel Jesus, who produced an exquisite backheel flick to lay the ball off to Sterling, and the finish from the English forward was clinical.
Sterling also came close to picking up his second goal on 25 minutes. After some excellent City pressing, Riyad Mahrez whipped the ball across the face of goal toward Sterling, who would’ve had an easy tap-in had he been able to reach it.
The Englishman was again prominently involved in another City chance on the half-hour mark. Kevin De Bruyne got in behind the Atalanta defence and pulled the ball back to Sterling, who had his shot blocked. And the ensuing corner, Ilkay Gundogan blazed his shot from the edge of the box over the bar.
But City’s best chance to extend their advantage came on 41 minutes off a Sterling free-kick. City’s protests for a handball were heard by VAR, who awarded the visitors with a penalty. Up stepped Gabriel Jesus, but the Brazilian dragged his disappointing spot-kick wide of the goal.
An injury forced City keeper Ederson off at half-time, and backup Claudio Bravo’s first job was to pick the ball out from the back of his net as Atalanta equalised just four minutes after the break.
Papu Gomez’s brilliant cross from the left wing was met by Mario Pasalic, whose bullet header from point-blank range gave Bravo no chance.
The hosts very nearly took the lead just after the hour mark. Berat Dijmsiti got a glancing header on a Papu Gomez corner, but it ended up just wide.
There was more goalkeeper drama to come for City as Bravo raced out of the box to stop an Atalanta counter-attack. But he took out Josip Ilicic in the process, which gave the referee no choice to but to send him off.
With both keepers out, City had to resort to putting right-back Kyle Walker on as their emergency keeper to play out the remaining nine or so minutes of the match.
Walker was forced into action right away from the ensuing free-kick, which he managed to save and gather after an initial bobble. But that was his only entry in the Champions League 2019 highlights in goal as City held on for the draw.
Key statistics
Atalanta and Manchester City are two of the top attacking sides in all of Europe, although they didn’t create ton of chances in this match. The two teams combined for 18 shots, with City just edging it out, 10-8. They also had four shots on target to Atalanta’s two.
With top marksman Duvan Zapata still missing, Atalanta just found shots hard to come by. Pasalic and Ilicic had just one shot apiece, although the former did score the goal.
As for City, Sterling once again led the way with four shots, although he wasn’t quite at his very best in this match despite picking up another goal.
What’s next?
City’s next assignment will take them to Anfield for their top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool. Ederson is now a doubt to feature in that match due to the injury he picked up. His possible absence could have a huge impact on that game.
Meanwhile, Atalanta travel to Sampdoria this weekend and will be hoping to snap a two-match winless run in Serie A.
The SBOBET odds should see them favoured to do so against a Sampdoria side which had gone six games winless prior to beating fellow relegation strugglers SPAL.
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