da bet7： After their magnificent display against Barcelona, Manchester City could be forgiven for thinking they can relax a little in Europe now. That would be a grave mistake, though.
da gbg bet： Borussia Monchengladbach are the next European challengers to Pep Guardiola’s side, as they make the trip to Germany. Despite an abysmal start to their Bundesliga campaign, Gladbach are still a significant threat to Manchester City’s hopes of a relaxed route to qualification for the knockout stages. Their Champions League form, aside from their poor performance at the Etihad Stadium to start the group stage, has been a different story.
Pushing Barcelona all the way in their second game and outperforming Celtic in their third, Gladbach were unfortunate to not take all three points when they again hosted the Scots in matchday four. With just two games to play in the group, the German club reside three points behind Guardiola’s side. They are within a good performance of creating a stressed end to the group stage for Guardiola. City’s difficulties against Celtic earlier in the process, particularly their high pressing, do not suggest that their matchday six encounter will be plain sailing, either.
This game, then, is the meeting of two teams currently struggling to find rhythm. Gladbach have only shown flashes this season, while Manchester City are craving a return to the start of season displays. A dire domestic start for the Germans, which has seen them win only three of their first 11 Bundesliga games, can be cast aside by Guardiola. For whatever reason, their performances in the Champions League have far superseded their domestic results. Failure to win any of their last six, although worrying, hardly diminishes the threat that Gladbach pose.
City will be fully aware of this, of course. Their own concerns continue to raise their frustrating heads in the Premier League. Now with only one clean sheet in their last seven games domestically, Guardiola’s side are looking weaker at the back. Vincent Kompany’s return to the setup has done little to aid that cause, as his injury frustrations have continued, and their recent results have fallen far short of expectations. It is, perhaps, fortuitous that Guardiola experienced such a strong start to his tenure considering the recent run of form. Failure to be clinical in front of goal and leaking at the beak is not a good recipe.
That Barcelona performance was an example of just how good this Manchester City team can be. It too, though, causes frustration. Since that display, they have plodded along domestically, but are yet to replicate it.
Guardiola’s tenure is only just beginning, of course, and there is much more work to do to make performances like the one against Barcelona a regular occurance. However, to have a meaningful season in the Champions League, they must find something closer to that far more often. Currently, even an out-of-form Gladbach look a real threat to the comfort that City and Guardiola will have hoped for to end the group stage. This game could be a turning point – either for the good or for the bad.
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