Manchester City continued their fine form in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) with a commanding 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava, extending their unbeaten away run to 12 matches. After a surprising 5-1 defeat at Celtic on matchday one, Slovan had hoped to bounce back, but City’s visit to Slovakia proved too much to handle.
City Starts Strong with Gündoğan’s Early Strike
Manchester City wasted no time asserting their dominance. Inside the first 10 minutes, İlkay Gündoğan reacted swiftly to a blocked shot from Savinho, firing home from the edge of the area. This marked Gündoğan’s first goal since rejoining City, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Slovan Bratislava rattled and played catch-up as City continued to push forward with their dynamic attacking play.
Doku and Foden Combine for City’s Second
Slovan’s defense was further punished just minutes later. Jérémy Doku, a constant menace throughout the game, sliced through Bratislava’s defense before squaring the ball to Phil Foden. Foden, with precision, curled the ball into the far corner, doubling City’s advantage. The duo, Doku and Foden, were relentless, constantly testing the Slovan defense and creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities.
City’s Attacking Trio Close In On More Goals
The signs were ominous for the Slovakians as City almost extended their lead further. Doku’s impressive left-footed shot rattled the post, and moments later, Foden’s effort struck the frame again. Slovan’s goalkeeper, Dominik Takáč, was under constant siege but diverted the ball onto the post, temporarily keeping the scoreline respectable.
However, Erling Haaland’s presence up front was always a ticking time bomb. After narrowly missing out on chances earlier, Haaland found the back of the net following a perfect through ball from Rico Lewis. The Norwegian striker calmly rounded Takáč and slotted the ball into an empty net to extend City’s lead to three goals.
City Adds a Fourth Through James McAtee
With Haaland substituted and Pep Guardiola managing squad rotation ahead of City’s Premier League title quest, James McAtee came off the bench and wasted no time making an impact. After a slick build-up involving Phil Foden, McAtee controlled the pass with finesse and smashed the ball into the near post, sealing the victory with City’s fourth goal.
City had eased up by this point, but their control over the match was undeniable. Guardiola will be pleased with the professional performance, especially considering the need to balance Champions League success with domestic ambitions.
Slovan Bratislava Faces a Tough UCL Reality
Slovan Bratislava’s back-to-back four-goal margin defeats have been a sobering introduction to the Champions League’s intensity. Despite these setbacks, their focus must shift towards more winnable games later in the group stage. Facing the reigning champions is never easy, and Slovan will take the lessons learned into their upcoming fixtures.
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Final Thoughts
Manchester City’s dominant 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava solidified their place as one of the teams to beat in this year’s UEFA Champions League. With their UCL unbeaten away streak now stretched to 12 matches, City are setting the standard for European competition. Pep Guardiola’s side demonstrated their depth and class, from Gündoğan’s early strike to McAtee’s late goal, leaving no doubt that City is firmly in control of their destiny this season.
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