When required Manchester City moved into a high gear, pulling away from Porto as the second half wore on. For that Pep Guardiola deserves credit for a double substitution that introduced Phil Foden and Ferran Torres, the pair soon combining for the latter’s goal that made the points safe.
It meant City began their campaign in fine fashion and in a Group C also featuring Olympiakos and Marseille they will surely be hard to stop. Yet in a schedule that is particularly hectic the sight of Fernandinho, himself a replacement, limping off near the final whistle was unwelcome. The veteran joins Kevin De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus as senior players who are currently unavailable.
Written by Jamie Jackson at the Etihad Stadium
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/21/ilkay-gundogan-calms-manchester-city-nerves-to-set-up-win-over-porto under the title “Ilkay Gündogan sets up Manchester City win over Porto but injuries mount up”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
