AS Roma earned an important point away at Manchester City in Tuesday's Champions League clash.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at home to AS Roma in their crucial Champions League group stage clash on Tuesday. The hosts went ahead in the game's opening exchanges, only to be pegged back by their Italian visitors midway through the first half. After an even game, neither side could have complaints with the final score.
The game had barely kicked off before City had taken the lead, with Sergio Agüero rolling home from the penalty spot after he was tugged down in the penalty area by his old teammate Maicon. The Brazilian defender almost atoned for his error just three minutes after gifting City their opening goal, though after he was sent surging down the right by Francesco Totti, he could only crack a powerful shot against the crossbar.
A fairly cagey spell followed the initial flurry, but Roma were generally the more threatening team. They were allowed to dominate the centre of midfield, though it took them until midway through the first half before they finally netted an equaliser.
It came when Totti sprung City's offside trap to meet Radja Nainggolan's through ball, which City goalkeeper Joe Hart failed to come out to collect. The 38-year-old Italian made him pay with a delightful chipped finish, ensuring he became the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history in the process.
Roma stayed in the ascendency for most of the remainder of the first half, though they created only one other real clear-cut goalscoring opportunity. A smart Maicon chip sent Gervinho charging down the right, though he was denied from a tight angle by a diving Hart.
It didn't take long after the restart before the giallorossi were causing their hosts more problems, with Miralem Pjanić the main protagonist. After some penalty box pinball he was denied from point-blank range by Hart, shortly before curling a shot wide from the edge of the area.
City managed to see off the initial barrage, and the introduction of Frank Lampard just short of the hour served to beef up their rather unconvincing midfield. As the game drew towards its conclusion, the hosts looked increasingly threatening going forward, though they were made to settle for just a point.
Manchester City: Hart; Clichy, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta; Silva, Fernandinho, Touré, Navas (Milner 46'); Džeko (Lampard 57'), Agüero (Jovetić 84').
Goals: Agüero (pen. 4').
AS Roma: Skorupski; Cole, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Maicon (Torosidis 89'); Nainggolan, Keita, Pjanić; Gervinho, Totti (Iturbe 72'), Florenzi (Holebas 83').
Goals: Totti (23').
3 things
1. Roma took full advantage of their spare midfield man
Manchester City set up in their 4-4-2 in this match, with Yaya Touré and Fernandinho in the centre of midfield, flanked by Jesús Navas and David Silva. Roma, meanwhile, set up in a 4-3-3, with Seydou Keita sat behind Miralem Pjanić and Radja Nainggolan.
The result was Roma dominating the centre of midfield and controlling possession for the lion's share of the match, with Nainggolan and Pjanić both able to drift into pockets of space between City's lines. They outnumbered City's central players 3 vs. 2, and made it count with Totti's excellent goal.
It took City manager Manuel Pellegrini until the 57th minute before redressing the balance by bringing on Frank Lampard for a wholly ineffectual Edin Džeko. It was a selection he probably should have made right from the kick-off -- his team are far better with the ball than without it, and letting Roma dominate wasn't the best plan. After Lampard's introduction, City were much improved.
2. Francesco Totti is as majestic as ever
Francesco Totti is now 38 years old, but he's just as effective on the field as ever. His game isn't based on physicality or pace, but supreme vision and outstanding technique. Everything that epitomised his performance against City. Drifting across the attack, the veteran could constantly be found trying to string teammates through on goal with audacious lobbed passes, and capped his performance with the most Tottiesque of cheeky chipped finishes. Never retire, capitano.
3. Manuel Pellegrini still has a big goalkeeping dilemma
Despite Willy Caballero making his debut in the Premier League on the weekend, he hasn't yet displaced Joe Hart as Manuel Pellegrini's number one, and the Englishman was returned the gloves for what was almost certainly City's most important game of the season so far.
However, it was another pretty unconvincing performance from Hart, who hasn't looked like a genuinely top class goalkeeper for a long time. He should have been much more decisive for Roma's goal, and a better player could have won the game for the Citizens.
Unlike last season, Hart now has a very good backup, and it wouldn't be all that surprising if Pellegrini gives Caballero a run of games in the near future.
from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1nGVMMR
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