From then on it was one-way traffic, with Manchester City boasting the lion’s share of possession, but they couldn’t translate it into goals. It may have come late but Sergio Aguero is a cool guy and he will score.
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Not so long ago, they would have crumbled after suffering the blow of falling behind after such sustained pressure, but on this occasion, they pulled it out of the fire. City finished the first half the stronger side at Borussia Park, but were made to rue their wastefulness after the break.
“We knew that Borussia have a very fast team”.
This was Borussia’s first European match at this level for 37 years and their first defeat to English opposition at home on the continent in six matches. Nicolas Otamendi slams a shot towards goal that comes off the head of Christensen and finds the top corner. 1-1. Sterling picks out Aguero unmarked at the back post, but the goalkeeper makes a terrific save with his trailing leg to deny the Argentinean.
However, from that moment onward City looked a different side. “We always take the scenic route in Europe!” The penalty against us in the last minute was also down to a lack of focus.
Probing for early vulnerability in a City defence that proved so porous at White Hart Lane, Johnson drove towards goal and skilfully laid off for Raffael to slice off target.
Yaya Toure, substituted with a tight hamstring at Tottenham and wholly ineffective here, was replaced by Fernando for the start of the second half as Raffael and Hart resumed their duel.
Hart plunged low to his right to deny Raffael after Nicolas Otamendi was adjudged to have fouled the forward, and made a number of impressive saves in open play to hand Pellegrini’s side a vital win following their opening defeat to Juventus.
In the second half the England keeper picked up where he left off, palming away a fine curled shot by Raffael, frustrating Gladbach two minutes after the restart but could do nothing when Stindl drilled in with one touch after a superb cutback from Julian Korb in the 54th.
It seemed City were again suffering on the continent and David Silva, on his return from a calf injury, was withdrawn just after the hour.
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Korb could have taken a shot, but he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Stindl, whose composed right-foot finish from 12 yards gave Hart no chance.
