Manchester City have cruised past Young Boys with a 3-nil win at the Etihad. The win sees the European champions book their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage with two games to spare. It is the eleventh consecutive season that the treble winners have progressed to the knockout stage of the competition.
Through to the #UCL knockouts for the 11th season in a row! 💪 pic.twitter.com/1UDOtXQgYq
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 7, 2023
Pep Guardiola originally made 6 changes to the starting lineup when the teams were announced. There was a last-minute change with Manuel Akanji withdrawn due to illness and replaced by Kyle Walker in the starting eleven.
First half:
Manchester City dominated the first half with Young Boys looking to sit in and hit on the counter. The European champions dominated possession and forced the Swiss side to defend for the majority of the half.
Rico Lewis had an early chance cleared off the line as Pep Guardiola’s side looked for the opening goal. Young Boys keeper Anthony Racioppi then made a smart double save from a Kyle Walker free-kick and Phil Foden on the follow-up to preserve parity.
The treble winners would break the deadlock through Erling Haaland from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute. Matheus Nunes was brought down by Sandro Lauper who was fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card for the challenge after being booked moments before the penalty. Erling Haaland cooly sent Racioppi the wrong way to give City a well-deserved lead.
Following Haaland’s goal the game settled into a pattern of City dominating possession and Young Boys content to try and hit on the break.
With the half drawing to a close Phil Foden made it 2-nil with a sublime goal in first-half stoppage time. Jack Grealish played a sumptuous cross-field ball to Foden in acres of space. The England international cut in from the right to beat Racioppi with a polished finish to send City in at the break with a well-deserved 2-nil lead.
Second half:
City began the second half in total control and were looking to put the result to bed. It would only take 6 minutes for the treble winners to put the result beyond doubt.
In the 51st minute, Erling Haaland scored an absolute rocket from outside the box. After making room for the shit Haaland left the Young Boys keeper with no chance as he fired in a crisp strike to end the game as a contest.
Sandro Lauper received a second yellow card and was sent off moments later for a rash challenge on Nathan Ake. Lauper’s red card put any slim hope of a Young Boys comeback to bed.
The rest of the game meandered to the final whistle as Manchester City had achieved their goal of securing passage to the Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare.
Up next for City:
With passage to the next stage of the Champions League secure Pep Guardiola’s focus will now turn to Chelsea. City will face Mauricio Pochettino’s side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before the international break the following weekend.
