Saturday, July 21, 2018

Riyad Mahrez Makes The First Appearance

Manchester City 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: Riyad Mahrez makes the first appearance but Pep Guardiola's side find themselves off the pace as Mario Gotze's penalty is enough to separate the sides in Chicago




*Riyad Mahrez made his first appearance and start for Manchester City since signing from Leicester City
*Borussia Dortmund were ahead when Mario Gotze struck from the penalty spot after 28 minutes
*Mahrez was brought down after a heavy tackle by opposition midfielder Dzenis Burnic in the first half
*Joe Hart came on for what could be his last appearance for City to replace goalkeeper Claudio Bravo

These can be strange nights. Here was a first glimpse of Riyad Mahrez in a Manchester City shirt yet barely any of the others available to Pep Guardiola will have a bearing on their season.
A strong argument came be made for at least five of his starting XI – Jason Denayer, Aleks Zinchenko, Jack Harrison, Lukas Nmecha and Brahim Diaz – being elsewhere by the end of August.
The majority were kids, other than Mahrez and Claudio Bravo. Eric Garcia, the former Barcelona central defender, impressed, while Diaz may count this as a missed opportunity.
Mario Gotze sent Borussia Dortmund into the lead when he struck from the penalty spot after 28 minutes of play
Mario Gotze sent Borussia Dortmund into the lead when he struck from the penalty spot after 28 minutes of play
Gotze's celebration was rather reserved after he put Borussia Dortmund ahead following a foul on Christian Pulisic
Gotze's celebration was rather reserved after he put Borussia Dortmund ahead following a foul on Christian Pulisic
Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo looks a little disappointed after nearly keeping out Gotze's effort from 12 yards
Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo looks a little disappointed after nearly keeping out Gotze's effort from 12 yards

MATCH FACTS 

Man City (4-3-3): Bravo (Hart 46); Bolton, E Garcia, Denayer (Humphreys 67), Zinchenko; Douglas Luiz, Foden (Garre 73), Diaz (Dele-Bashiru 66); Mahrez (Roberts 76), Nmecha (Touaizi 73), Harrison
Subs not used: Sane, Grimshaw, Muric, Pozo, Matondo, Wilson, Ogbeta
Borussia Dortmund: Hitz, Zagadou, Isak, Götze, Rode, Pulisic, Schmelzer, Burnic, Larsen, Toprak, Bockhorn
Goals: Gotze 28
Booked: Burnic, Dahoud 
Referee: Villarreal A. (Usa) 
Att: 34,629    Diaz has many admirers inside City but was hooked just after the hour of this slender defeat. He was unusually quiet, struggling to impact the game.
It is difficult to glean much – if anything – with so many of City’s squad still on holiday and this tour of America could be about which teenager grabs his chance.
That could well have been Jadon Sancho, the 18-year-old who decided he would leave the Etihad Stadium last summer in pursuit of guaranteed first-team football. He arrived after half-time, a box of tricks, and is developing into a player ready to be polished.
Dortmund fielded a stronger side and are a week ahead of City in their preparations having played Austria Vienna last week. It showed, although Guardiola won’t be in the least bit bothered.
His youngsters went behind after 28 minutes. Christian Pulisic tied Zinchenko in knots, not for the first time, and the left back’s trailing leg felled the next great American hope. Mario Gotze converted the penalty, although Claudio Bravo got a hand on it.
It was a shame for Luiz, whose surrender of cheap possession allowed Dortmund to break. The Brazilian, a £10million capture from Vasco Da Gama last summer, had looked bright anchoring midfield. He knitted play together, albeit with no great pace, and served as an intelligent schemer too.
The 20-year-old might not be ready to act as a deputy to Fernandinho yet but there certainly seems to be the reason for hope in the future. And he wasn’t afforded much protection in Chicago.
Claudio Bravo managed to get a touch on the ball but couldn't stop it from gathering in the net behind him
Claudio Bravo managed to get a touch on the ball but couldn't stop it from gathering in the net behind him
Dortmund's players quickly surrounded Gotze after he scored the opening goal even though he didn't seem too excited
Dortmund's players quickly surrounded Gotze after he scored the opening goal even though he didn't seem too excited
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delivers instructions to his players after they went 1-0 down in the first half
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delivers instructions to his players after they went 1-0 down in the first half
Riyad Mahrez visibly in pain after he was fouled from behind by Dzenis Burnic who was booked for his troubles
Riyad Mahrez visibly in pain after he was fouled from behind by Dzenis Burnic who was booked for his troubles
Manchester City's Douglas Luiz attempts to take the ball away from opposition striker Alexander Isak and move forward
Manchester City's Douglas Luiz attempts to take the ball away from opposition striker Alexander Isak and move forward
Guardiola has said he wants Luiz and Claudio Gomes, a signing from PSG, training with the first team this term and it will be interesting to see how that midfield conundrum resolves itself in the coming months. Phil Foden will want to stake a claim further forward and showed some nice touches, retaining the ball well.
Dortmund might have doubled their lead shortly after the opener. Alexander Isak broke clear but was pushed wide by Bravo and slammed into the side-netting.
City were occasionally bright yet rarely threatened, the only save Marwin Hitz having to make before half-time coming from a Mahrez free-kick. The £60m man swept another wide from 30 yards shortly after the break.
The powerful Nmecha went close and Joe Hart performed admirably at the other end after replacing Bravo for his first appearance in two years. Hart, like a few of the others, is unlikely to be at City much longer. 
Riyad Mahrez on the ball for Manchester City in the first half as he tries to beat his man and move further up the pitch
Riyad Mahrez on the ball for Manchester City in the first half as he tries to beat his man and move further up the pitch
Mahrez moves forward with the ball and past Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze who failed to track his run
Mahrez moves forward with the ball and past Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze who failed to track his run
Both sides walk out at Soldier Field in Chicago ahead of the first International Champions Cup tie of the summer
Both sides walk out at Soldier Field in Chicago ahead of the first International Champions Cup tie of the summer
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola takes his seat ahead of kick off at Soldier Field on Saturday morning in Chicago
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola takes his seat ahead of kick off at Soldier Field on Saturday morning in Chicago
Soldier Field was the host of Manchester City's International Champions Cup fixture against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday
Soldier Field was the host of Manchester City's International Champions Cup fixture against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday
Manchester City, as many other clubs do, use pre-season tours to different countries to boost their global reach and fanbase 
Manchester City, as many other clubs do, use pre-season tours to different countries to boost their global reach and fanbase 





No comments:

Post a Comment