Man City Brought Back Down To Earth!

Last night we saw big spending Manchester city make their debut in Europe's elite competition; the Uefa Champions League. After securing third spot in the Barclays Premier League last season, City's billionaire owners finally got what they wished for three years after taking over at Eastlands.
 
After another window of splashing the cash City have got off to a great start domestically with only fierce rivals Manchester United outdoing them so far. Before the game there was huge confidence that the team would get off to a perfect start at home against Italian side Napoli. In some quarters they were being tipped to be Barcelona’s main challenges for the elusive trophy; however after 90mins of Champions League football reality would be in order. It wasn't expected to be a walkover with the Italians hosting a fierce front three of Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik whilst also having stars such as Inler and Paolo Cannavoro, younger brother of World Cup winner Fabio, in the side.
 
Mancini made five changes from the side that won against Wigan at the weekend with Zabaleta, Kolarov, Nasri, Barry and Dzeko coming in to the side. Napoli on the other hand stuck with there unique 3-4-3 formation. Euro fever gripped the City fans on this historic night with the players being greeted with a ferocious atmosphere when they entered the pitch.

Manchester City got off to the better start at the newly named Etihad stadium with Nasri firing an early chance wide. However Napoli posed a great threat on the counter attack, with Cavani also blazing a chance over the bar. Both sides continued to attack and both had there best chances of the first half on the counter. First the threatening Lavezzi wrong footed Kompany and curled a shot towards goal unluckily hitting the bar , moments later Yaya Toure broke from a poor Napoli corner and after neatly swapping passes with Aguero also thumped a shot against the cross bar.
 
The second half started much quieter than the first with both sides respecting each others quality on the counter. Napoli created the first real chance of the half, but Kompany atoned for his earlier mistake brilliantly blocking Marek Hamsiks shot on the line. Napoli seemed to be taking control of the match and on 69mins they took the lead. Barry carelessly lost possession in the middle of the park, Maggio robbing the ball before putting Cavani through on goal. The Uruguayan made no mistake calmly slotting under Joe Hart.



Cavani gives Napoli the lead

The goal seemed to lift city and moments later Aguero hit the bar. Then two minutes later City got their first ever goal in the Champions League, from the most unlikely culprit; left back Aleksandar Kolarov. The Serbian bending in a splendid free kick from 25 yards leaving the goalie motionless. The game from then on saw both sides pushing for the winner. The impact of Manchester City substitute Adam Johnson seemed to give them a new threat width; however the Napoli defence stayed resilient. It was the Italians that had the best chance to win it when Kompanys poor short back pass nearly gifted Pandev a goal scoring chance, but Hart was quick on the scene to get to the ball first. No real chances followed and the game ended with a well deserved point for both sides.
 

Kolarov celebrates after scoring his superb free-kick

The champions league is supposed to be a step up from domestic football and that was the case for Manchester City .Loads of hype surrounded them labeling them as untouchable but this would have brought them comfortably back down to earth. Many expected them to be contenders for the Champions League this year and although only one game is gone it’s too early for them. Yes they’ve got a squad full of quality both in the starting line up and on the bench but the team needs to be given time to mature and develop together. A tough tie in Munich awaits them on match day two, a game Mancini confidently said his side would win, I’d have to disagree. With the money spent it was thought that City would reach the latter stages of the competition but it looks like this will be a hard group to get out of and it wouldn't be surprising if they didn't make it to the knockout stages of the competition. However they’ve certainly got the quality to blow away there opponents in the remaining five group games, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Jack Doone-Daniels