Slovan Bratislava Manchester City

Ok, I only had two options, this game or Barcelona vs Young Boys. I decided on this one. Slovan had a one on one chance in the first couple of minutes, after that it was all Manchester City during the first half. First Gundogan forced an own goal on the eighth minute and City just continued the pressure until Doku backed a ball to Foden who took a terrific shot and beat the Slovan keeper. City kept the pressure on for what remained of the first half but to no avail, they had at least five clear chances but missed them. I expect a Slovan reaction for the second half.

So the second half has been a continuation of the first half, nearly a City monologue, but with no goal, probably wasn't given a penalty on a foul on Lewis. No goal that is, until Slovan tried to score and left some spaces in back, Lewis just filtered a ball to Haaland who scored as he usually does, making it look easy.

After this third goal I feel the game lost intensity, and the game just ran its course. Then of course City scored their fourth goal, in what I thought was just a routine play, McAtee scored a well played goal. I was just thinking MC might rue their lackadaisical (OK, I am trying to use difficult words) approach without scoring what they should. That draw against Inter is not good, but now after the fourth I think they are OK. Maybe there will be more still 15 minutes left. There were no more goals but City missed at least another four chances.

OK, we just saw the difference between a team with good players and a team with top level players. Yes, the team with the top level players is not guaranteed to win, but they do have an edge. A great home crowd, never stopped cheering even at the end of the game.