By Daily sports on October 22, 2020

Manchester City’s latest quest for Champions League glory got off to a winning start as Pep Guardiola’s men came from behind to beat Porto 3-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday.

Luis Diaz’s solo effort punished a sloppy City start for the Portuguese champions, who felt hard done by when Sergio Aguero equalised thanks to a contentious penalty award.

However, the Premier League side’s quality shone through after halftime when Ilkay Gundogan's free-kick and substitute Ferran Torres’ fine finish moved City to the top of Group C.

Guardiola admitted on Tuesday to still feeling guilty over the experimental line-up and formation that led to City's latest Champions League calamity in last season’s quarterfinals against Lyon little over two months ago.

The Catalan is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad and potentially his last chance to land the prize City most desired when they brought him to Manchester five years ago.

However, in the early weeks of the season, City have look a faded force from the prime of Guardiola’s reign in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019.

Without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, the English giants were again far from their free-flowing best and Porto took advantage early on.

Former Benfica captain Ruben Dias was at fault for giving the ball away for the opener against his old rivals.

But Diaz still had a huge amount to do as he eased past timid challenges from Rodrigo and Joao Cancelo before unleashing a powerful effort into the far corner.

The visitors’ lead only lasted seven minutes and City levelled with a good deal of fortune.

Gundogan inadvertantly caught Porto ’keeper Agustin Marchesin as he tried to direct the ball goalwards and after the German’s shot came off the post, Raheem Sterling was barged over in the box by Pepe .

Marchesin kept the score down late on with great saves from Riyad Mahrez and Rodrigo, while tempers flared between Guardiola and Porto boss Sergio Conceiçao after Pepe and Sterling clashed off the ball.

However, City suffered a late injury blow when captain Fernandinho, who had only been on the field nine minutes, was forced off with what looked like a muscle problem. (SuperSport)

•PHOTO: Man City players 

Source Daily sports

Posted October 22, 2020

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