What's going on in the CL?

City's starting eleven featured a surprise in the form of Nasri who started the game and banished both Jesus Navas and new signing Kevin De Bruyne to the bench. That was a mistake. What pleased City supporters was that Sergio Aguero was on the bench after being attacked by Scott Dann last Saturday.

Both teams are as cautious as two boxers who have great respect for each other and City is becoming more of a dominant force in the game after the opening quarter of the game. Unfortunately, however, the players seem taken by the seriousness of the moment, and they were far too stagnant.

It is noteworthy at this level is that City has to put away the chance they get chances. Sterling has two big chance that just have to be put away. Juve has three scoring opportunities and scores two from them. Another conclusion is that it the play must float along a lot faster.

Primarily, it is the central midfield that must play a lot faster to gain ground and to create chances. City has again put themselves in a difficult position in the group stage. But this group is likely to be very "tight" and all matches are important.

Manchester City vs Watford

With great swagger, Pellegrini does not change anything in the starting line-up from the previous match. Given how good the guys played and with a international break approaching, one might wonder why he would do it? One reason may well be to bring in some new blood to show something and bring new energy during a match where City's worst opponent is their own motivation.

This problem becomes evident during the first half to almost be described as the world championships in trot football. City look uninterested, uninspired and energy releasing during the match opening 45 minutes.

At the break Pellegrini stirred around in the pot and he takes a underperforming Navas and on comes Nasri. This means that Pellegrini also makes a tactical change and sends Silva out on the right and he  places Nasri on the left wing. Sterling is in the middle. It takes only 90 seconds for Sterling to run free and Sagna crosses the ball towards the world's most expensive Englishman who makes it 1-0.

In the 55th minute Yaya fires off a hard free-kick into the Watford wall. Somehow the ball bounces out to Silva who, as usual, beats a perfectly weighted pass forward to Fernandinho coming in from the right and he fires a rocket of a shot straight in the net and if the match was decided by 1-0 is definitely closed at 2-0.

Iheanacho got to make his Premier League debut after 87 minutes for Manchester City in front of a standing ovation for both him and for Sterling who he replaced. Over 90 minutes Joe Hart was not tested at all.

Finally, the match ends with a very confident 2-0 win which means that Pellegrini broke a 103-year club record for the most number of league wins in a row. The new record is now 10 wins in a row.

















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Match Report: Manchester City - Roma

In the training tournament International Champions Cup City faced off with Roma on Australian soil. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after an entertaining and exciting game that was played at a surprisingly high tempo considering that both teams are in pre-season. Sterling and Iheanacho both scored for City while Pjanic and Ljajic scored for Roma. The match was subsequently decided on penalties, which City won after Hart stood for a great show.

The game starts and Already after two minutes in the City-sweater Sterling scores his first City goals. The Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho got off a perfect long range pass through Romas high back line that found its way into a free Sterling, who coolly put the ball into the net behind De Sanctis. 1-0 to City.

However, City's joy did not last long as Roma scored to make it 1-1 in the seventh minute. Just outside the penalty area Pjanic smashed the ball and through a superbly shot ball it suddenly went into the net behind Caballero. Really nicely done indeed.

In the 22nd minute City should've received a penalty, but in some strange way the referee decided to not award it even though he stood from a perfect position saw Sterling getting swiped off his legs by Florenzi in the Roma penalty area.

At half time both teams made a bunch of changes. In the 50th minute Roma were kind to invite City to more goalscoring opportunities. Roma juggled the ball nice and quietly in the back line until  Ashley Cole suddenly hit the ball to Iheanacho who was free with De Sanctis and he was completely ice cold when he booted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 to City.

Roma managed to scored the 2-2 goal with five minutes left and although this time the goal was really neat. Roma were given a free kick just outside the City penalty area and Ljajic elegantly lifted the ball over the City wall. This meant that the game would be decided on penalties.

Kolarov missed while Yaya, Navas, Lopes, Hart and Horsfield scored. For Roma Doumbia and Keita missed after Joe Hart showed his class and his mockery skills while Nainggolan, Ljajic, Destro and Falque was more accurate.

City win 5-4