The heavy weights in club football have routinely demonstrated how to defeat Manchester City, it is not a rare occurrence when the red hot reds-the Liverpool team played them in December 2024 it was expected to end in defeat, in the league encounter played at Anfield, Liverpool won with two unreplied goals scored by Gakpo and the Brilliant Mo Salah but emerging heavy weights like Arsenal ruthless 5-1 winners at the emirates, French heavyweights PSG`s two goal come from behind 4-2 win at the Parc des Princes in Paris and the current champions league winners Real Madrid`s 3-2 win inflicting a first European tie home defeat at City since 2018 since a loss to Lyon which ended an impressive 35 game unbeaten streak. it can`t get worse, the Citizens have conceded eight goals in the final 15 minutes of their last five European matches.
Lesson to be learnt
- How to turn setbacks into springboards for success the Arteta way.
- Real Madrid and Vinicius created history from a difficult situation.
The clash against the top sides both in reputation and recent form has led to defeats, even Juventus former European and Italian giants were comfortable winners a 2-0 win at the group stages of the champions league, but in Arsenal`s victory, it gave us some insight on how to overcome great obstacles by preparation and a mind set to prevail over any challenge, Arteta one of Pep`s protégé gave a commanding performance, it had always been the other way round with defeats handed to the Gunners even with their best effort, in their past seven premiership duels City has won four drawing two with several of the recent defeats being title defining encounters showing the gap between them as significant but the younger Spanish coach had learnt how to improve, re-strategize and go again. a relentlessness that brings positive results. when others are seeing the physical losses which is reflected on the scoreboard with three consecutive heavy defeats 3-1,4-1 and 5-0, the swing in momentum is manifested before the victory which was highlighted in the 2-2 draw in the first league encounter this season despite being a man down for more than forty five minutes, Arsenal still held on, even when the painful equalizer which was scored at the eight minute of injury time it was still not enough to diminish their collective spirit, the confrontation especially the jibe by Haaland on Arteta to stay humble was used as fuel to expedite a burning hunger for a change in results, they had done it in the past in the not too significant community shield two seasons ago and a narrow league win sixteen months ago, But this was more defining, a statement win that will shift their adversaries into winnable opponents. A psychological blow, that will certainly give them an edge in future confrontations. So far, in terms of performance Arsenal can be regarded as heavy weights, they have been consistent, winning the league or their first champions league title will be a deserving reward, they can only keep pushing, believe in themselves and continue strengthening their team.
Real imposes more pain at City!
Real Madrid the epitome of success in club football even when they are not at their best have a way of showing up when it matters, they struggled at the newly revamped elite competition but have found a way to reach the knockout stage, the draws have made their sporting rivalry with Manchester City a recuring affair, for the past four consecutive seasons they have clashed and like a movie series each encounter have provided a fresh twist adding a new chapter to this clash of titans, interestingly in each of the previous three seasons the winner go on to win the title City with one and Real with two in between, this recent battle pitting arguably two of the greatest club managers in modern history had a different dimension, both also, were midfield pillars as players in champions league winning careers, it was the earliest confrontation at this competition against each other with Real`s victory fueled by City, their fans unfurling a provocative banner and banter against Vinicius as a result of the Ballon d`Or controversy, used to good effect just like Arteta`s Arsenal, it was a lesson on how the best will always use such as a motivation to perform excellently, a perfect way to silence their critics, the rest will fumble under such intense and adverse circumstance, the Brazilian and his compatriot Rodrygo, last season`s sensation Jude Bellingham and their new poster boy Mbappe with the rest of the team put in the extra effort and were duly rewarded turning a likely defeat into a valuable win which they will take into the return leg, an advantage, as long as they remain focused, it was their first win against City in their backyard within 90 minutes adding to their sweet penalty shoot out win in last season`s quarter finals match where City subjected them to a relentless attacking display which would have overwhelmed any other team, but Real are not an ordinary team, the 15 time European champions are capable of the impossible when they hit their stride. they had their own problems, a defensive crisis with almost their entire starting back line on the treatment table a more disproportionate number in comparison to City’s, with notably their star boy Rodri- their best player and winning charm. Real had Alaba, Carvajal, Militao and Rudiger however, the best will always find a way out of a difficult situation. The match started after City survived some few scares, Haaland scored his first goal after a combination play between Grealish and Gvardiol with the Norwegian applying the finish, his first goal against them in five matches when Mbappe equalized from a mistimed effort in the second half in the sixtieth minute, it looked as if Real will consolidate on their statistical advantage having more goal attempts which translated to more shots on goal, expected goals and an overall better performance but Haaland struck again when Foden a replacement for the injured Grealish was fouled by Ceballos and City was awarded a penalty which he clinically dispatched sending Courtois the wrong way with about ten minutes left, a lead that they soon relinquished like in their first managerial battle between the two clubs two seasons ago, Real hit back six minutes later when substitute Diaz their former player hit in a rebound he respectfully declined to celebrate but Real Madrid had the final say and was put in celebration mood when Bellingham chased a loose ball which he guided into the net after Vinicius had tried to loop a finish over the onrushing Ederson. City are now prone to mistakes and are prey to opponents that have studied them more than a million times and able to inflict punishment. The reverse fixture will offer another thrilling encounter with more goals and the victor will add more fuel to take on the opposition in the round of sixteen. Real has added more on the playbook on how to beat the former heavy weight champion Manchester City.
