Man City 2-0 Bayern: Silva and Toure score but Blues bow out of Champions League
Wednesday 07 December 2011
Man City 2
Silva 36, Toure 52
Bayern Munich 0
Etihad Stadium
Manchester City bowed out of their debut Champions League campaign at the group stage despite a matchday six victory over the Group A winners Bayern Munich. Napoli’s 2-0 victory against the hapless Spanish outfit Villarreal saw them clinch second spot in the group and seal a miserable night for the Manchester clubs, with United also crashing out in Basel.
With City needing a win, Roberto Mancini set out an attacking line up. Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero and David Silva were expected to provide the ammunition for Edin Dzeko. City used Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry as the midfield screen.
Bayern Munich had left Arjen Robben at home suffering from illness and, having already qualified, rested many of their big names. Their formation matched that of City. Tymoshchuk and Luiz Gustavo were utilised as the holding midfielders with Ivica Olic, Daniel Pranjic and David Alaba behind Nils Petersen as the attacking force.
The opening half hour was a sterile affair. City dominated possession without ever seriously threatening the Bayern goal, whilst the German side looked more likely to score on the rare occasions they did manage to get forward, with Joe Hart forced into an awkward looking save early on to deny Olic.
City did have the ball in the net as Silva’s floated free kick curled over the head of Bayern keeper Hans-Jorg Butt, however the goal was ruled out with the referee judging Joleon Lescott to have fouled the keeper.
The whole complexion of the group changed on 36 minutes with City taking the lead with a goal out of the blue. A throw in on the right was played into the edge of the box, with the ball finding Silva 20 yards out. The Spaniard controlled on his chest before despatching a stunning left foot strike low into the bottom corner of the Bayern net.
City should have doubled their lead moments later when Aguero glided forward into the box, creating an angle to slide the ball past Butt, only to see ex-City man Jerome Boateng get back to clear off the line.
A goal at the start of the second half gave City breathing space, a neat passing move which saw Toure involved three times, the third occasion being the decisive touch under Butt after bursting onto Dzeko’s through ball.
With City looking comfortable, all ears were tuned into events at the Madrigal, but it was not good news as Napoli got the goals they needed to stay ahead of City in the group and demote the Sky Blues into the Europa League.
Man City (4-2-3-1):Hart; Savic, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Toure (Balotelli 81), Barry; Nasri, Aguero, Silva (Johnson 84); Dzeko (De Jong 77)
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1):Butt; Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Contento; Tymoshchuk, Luiz Gustavo; Olic, Pranjic, Alaba; Petersen (Usami 81)
Did you know… Manchester City became the first team in five years, since Werder Bremen in 2006, to fail to qualify from the group stages with 10 points.
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