Champions League wins for Man City, Real

2021-02-25 HKT 07:22″ title=”Gabriel Jesus was on the scoresheet for Manchester City. Photo: Reuters”>

Gabriel Jesus was on the scoresheet for Manchester City. Photo: Reuters
2021-02-25 HKT 08:50″ title=”Ferland Mendy (L) celebrates his late, game-winning goal. Photo: Reuters”>

Ferland Mendy (L) celebrates his late, game-winning goal. Photo: Reuters

Manchester City moved to the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach but coach Pep Guardiola insisted his team still need to “be more clinical up front”.

A first half header from Bernardo Silva and a Gabriel Jesus strike in the second period of the last 16 first leg tie extended a winning streak by Guardiola’s high-flying side to 19 games in all competitions.

Premier League leaders City camped inside the Gladbach half for most of the game, which was moved to Hungary due to Germany’s Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Although dominant, City took time to break down a stubborn German defence, often foiled by the interceptions of Algeria left-back Ramy Bensebaini.

While Guardiola said afterwards he was “pleased” with the result, he added City “have to improve” to challenge for Champions League honours.

“We controlled the game. Unfortunately we were not clinical up front, it is something we have to improve in this competition, we were not good enough in the box, we didn’t dribble and shoot enough,” said Guardiola.

“In this competition you have to be perfect to be sure you can go through,” he said.

Elsewhere, Ferland Mendy put Real Madrid within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals with the late strike that sank 10-man Atalanta 1-0 in Bergamo.

The French left-back’s curling effort came four minutes from time in a last 16, first leg clash in which the hosts had to play a man down for over 70 minutes, giving Zinedine Zidane’s side the advantage heading into the second leg in Madrid on March 16.

“It was not our best performance but the away goal is the important thing,” said Zidane.

“We know we have to play a second match and we have to win there.”

Atalanta had attacked early but the game was transformed when Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler was harshly send off in the 17th minutes for tripping Mendy at the edge of the penalty area.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s woes continued with forward Duvan Zapata limping off after half an hour with a muscular problem with midfielder Mario Pasalic coming off the bench.

“The game was ruined,” said Gasperini.

“I don’t know what would have happened 11 against 11….I just got banned for saying something in Serie A, if I say something now then UEFA will ban me for a month. But this is football suicide.” (AFP)