Manchester Metropolis’s unbeaten run on this season’s Champions League got here to an finish as a much-changed Metropolis facet have been crushed 2-0 by Bayer Leverkusen on the Etihad.
Captain Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick grabbed the targets because the Bundesliga membership, environment friendly and efficient on the counter, got here out on high following a lacklustre efficiency from Pep Guardiola’s males.
The end result means Metropolis drop to sixth spot within the desk, whereas Kasper Hjulmand’s crew, who grew to become the primary German facet to win on the Etihad in additional than a decade, are as much as thirteenth.
The Metropolis boss made a minimum of 10 modifications to the facet that misplaced to Newcastle on the weekend, with Nico Gonzalez the one Metropolis participant to maintain his place.
And the wholesale modifications initially seemed to be working after Metropolis raced out the blocks, dominating possession however failing to carve out any actual possibilities.
Guardiola, who had reduce a visibly offended determine at St James’ Park on Saturday, appeared slightly agitated on the touchline within the early levels. For all of the hosts’ dominance, that they had little to indicate for it.
And with 23-minutes gone, that agitation would flip to frustration when the guests took a shock lead.
Following a slick counter, Christian Kofane together with his again to aim touched Ibrahim Maza’s cross into the trail of the onrushing Grimaldo who fired low previous James Trafford.
Metropolis’s response was tepid. Once more they managed the play however as soon as extra they have been missing function in possession.
That was till a couple of minutes earlier than the break when former Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was known as upon to make two sensible saves, first from a deflected Oscar Bobb effort after which Tijjani Reijnders.
Guardiola wasted little time shaking issues up, bringing on Nico O’Reilly, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku on the break instead of Bobb, Rico Lewis and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
With high scorer Erling Haaland wanting on from the bench, and the sounds of Etihad trustworthy rising more and more annoyed, Metropolis would once more present vulnerability on the counter, Schick darting in forward of Nathan Ake to satisfy Maza’s cross and double Leverkusen’s lead.
Metropolis wanted a spark. Haaland entered the fray with 25 minutes remaining to assist salvage one thing from the sport.
The Norwegian’s introduction appeared to provide the hosts a right away raise, with Flekken required to maintain the 25-year-old at bay earlier than the Metropolis quantity 9 skied an effort over moments later.
Leverkusen have been content material to sit down behind the ball and protect the lead, throwing our bodies in the way in which as they held on for a well-known victory.