Football singularity-Chapter 693 Pep’s Man City (2)
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[24/01/2021 | Puskás Aréna, Budapest | 21:20 CET]
[UEFA Champions League Round of 16 - 1st Leg | Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Manchester City]
[22']
Wirtz received Tah's clearance thirty yards inside his own half, immediately scanned for space ahead. His first touch took him away from Gündoğan's press, spotting Rakim surging up on the wing, he sent a diagonal pass that split City's midfield entirely. The ball found him on the left wing, isolated against Kyle Walker, who was intent on standing him up.
The English right-back was experienced, positioning himself to force Rakim wide without committing to a tackle. But the winger didn't hesitate—a sharp set of step overs and a reverse elastico as they got closed, he created some separation. Walker recovered quickly, but Rakim had already accelerated past him, driving toward the penalty area.
"Rex on the move!" Tyldesley's voice rose. "He's gotten past Walker!"
Dias rushed across to cover as the winger surged forward, but he had options. Bailey was making a diagonal run from the right, and Schick had dropped to the edge of the box. He flicked the ball back onto his right foot, drawing Dias toward him, then played a clever pass with the outside of his boot into Schick's feet.
The Czech striker controlled the ball beautifully, absorbing Laporte's pressure with his back to the goal. He feinted right, then quickly turned left, dragging the ball in one smooth motion, slipping past his marker. He dudged his marker, creating some space before firing, striking cleanly from eighteen yards out, rising toward the top right corner.
Ederson launched himself upward and to his right, getting just enough on it to tip it over the bar. "EDERSON!" Drury exclaimed. "What a save! City's Brazilian goalkeeper answers Lomb's brilliance with his own!"
"This match is end-to-end chaos," Tyldesley noted. "Both goalkeepers are earning their wages tonight."
[28']
The corner swung in dangerously, Demirbay delivering it with pace toward the near post. Bodies collided in the six-yard box—Tah rose above Rodri, his header powerful and directed downward. Ederson couldn't reach it, but Dias somehow got there, booting it off the line desperately.
The ball fell to Amiri at the edge of the box. The German midfielder struck it first-time on the volley, his technique clean. The shot flew through a forest of legs, dipping and swerving toward the bottom corner. It struck Laporte's outstretched leg, sending Ederson flying the wrong way, but luckily it deflected wide.
"How are Leverkusen not ahead?!" Tyldesley's voice carried genuine disbelief. "They've created the better chances, putting City on the ropes!"
"Guardiola's men are surviving on individual brilliance right now," Drury added. "But how long can they survive under Leverkusen's onslaught?"
[34']
City responded with a period of sustained possession, attempting to slow the game's frenetic pace. Rodri became the metronome, playing simple passes that forced Leverkusen to chase or back off. Bernardo Silva dropped deep repeatedly, creating numerical advantages in midfield.
In the 36th minute, the Portuguese midfielder received from Cancelo, turned away from Demirbay's challenge with a clever drag-back, then launched a diagonal pass over Leverkusen's defensive line. Sterling had timed his run perfectly, staying onside by inches, his pace taking him clear.
Frimpong gave chase desperately, but Sterling had the angle. Twenty yards from goal, he cut inside sharply onto his right foot, shaping to shoot. Dragović slid across, trying to block— but Sterling's shot was struck with venom, rising toward the top left corner.
Lomb tracked it, launching himself across his goal, but no matter how he extended, he wouldn't reach it. Luck was on his side as the loud clang of the ball deflecting off the bar resounded a moment later. "Raheem Sterling!" Drury roared. "Oh, so close to the opening goal, just unlucky not to convert that."
[41']
The intensity hadn't dropped for a second, even after the close call, both teams pushing desperately for the breakthrough before Halftime. City maintained their dominance in possession but couldn't find the final ball to unlock Leverkusen's compact defensive shape. In the 43rd minute, Foden received from Bernardo Silva on the left, cut inside past Frimpong's challenge following a sharp feint.
His shot from twenty yards was struck cleanly, curving toward the bottom left corner—Tah threw himself into the path. The ball smashed against his thigh and deflected behind for a corner. The German captain stayed down for a moment, grimacing, but immediately waved away the physios, pushing himself back to his feet.
"Jonathan Tah is getting the job done!" Tyldesley exclaimed.
The corner swung in dangerously, Foden delivering it with pace toward the penalty spot. Dias rose highest above everyone, his header directed goalward from six yards out. Lomb got a hand to it, nudging it over the bar, clearing his goal by mere inches.
The second corner was more troublesome, with Laporte getting a head on Sterling's cross. Sinkgraven, hugging the back post, just about managed to head it out before it could cross the line. "DALEY SINKGRAVEN!" Drury roared. "Another goal-line clearance! Leverkusen is defending with their lives here!"
[45+2]
Leverkusen had the chance to attack the city goal in extra time when Rakim danced past Walker and the backtracking Gündoğan on the left flank. He chipped the ball out towards the top of the box into Wirtz's run, who was just arriving. The young midfielder chested the ball down, turning away from Rodri's press.
He laid the ball across for Amiri, and the German struck it first time, sending an arrow toward the far left side. Ederson springs into action again, getting a hand to the ball, doing just enough to stop its track. Schick tried to pounce on the rebound, but Dias was there to clear the plate.
(FWEEET, FWEEET!)
[HT: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Manchester City]
~~~
[CBS Sports Studio, London | Halftime]
Kate Abdo reappeared on screen, flanked by Henry, Carragher, and Richards. The studio graphics displayed match statistics—possession, shots, saves—each telling a different story of the opening forty-five minutes.
"Well, gentlemen," Kate began, "that was quite the first half. Nil-nil, but I don't think anyone can call that boring."
"Boring?" Richards exclaimed, leaning forward. "That was incredible! Both goalkeepers have been phenomenal. Lomb especially—I've lost count of how many saves he's made. Six? Seven?"
"At least six world-class stops," Carragher confirmed, checking his notes. "Without him, City are three-nil up easily. But here's the thing—Leverkusen have actually created better chances. More shots on target, more dangerous positions. They've been the more threatening side."
Henry nodded thoughtfully. "I told you they could compete. This isn't a team coming to defend for ninety minutes. They're using every chance to attack, creating chances, putting City under real pressure. Bosz's tactical setup has been excellent."
"But can they sustain it?" Kate challenged. "City will surely come out stronger in the second half. Guardiola will make adjustments. Can Leverkusen's rotated squad—without Hradecky, without Tapsoba—handle another forty-five minutes of this intensity?"
"That's the critical question," Henry agreed, folding his arms. "Physically, they'll tire. City's squad depth is vastly superior. But if Leverkusen can find one moment of quality, one goal, it changes the entire complexion of this tie."
"Micah, you're unusually quiet," Kate observed with a slight smile. "Worried about your prediction?"
Richards laughed, though it sounded slightly nervous. "Look, I still think Leverkusen can win this. They've been brilliant so far, but City haven't gotten out of second gear yet. When Guardiola makes his changes—when names like De Bruyne and Fernandinho come on—that's when it gets dangerous."
"So you're hedging now?" Carragher teased.
"I'm being realistic!" Richards protested. "I live in this Leverkusen side, but City have Kevin De Bruyne on the bench. That's not a normal substitute, it's like having Prime Kross or Iniesta ready to come on to change the game."
"Updated predictions for the second half?" Kate asked.
Carragher didn't hesitate. "Two-one City. They'll score twice in the final twenty minutes, Leverkusen will grab a late consolation."
"One-one," Henry countered. "Leverkusen score first on the counter, City equalise with fifteen minutes left, both sides settle for the draw."
Richards paused, considering. "You know what? I'm sticking with it. Two-nil Leverkusen. They get an early second-half goal, then add another before anyone can react. It'll be chaos, but they hold on."
Kate smiled at the camera. "Three different predictions. Let's see who's right. We'll be back with second-half coverage in just a moment."
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To Be Continued...
