Manchester City's formidable 23-match unbeaten streak in the Champions League group stages came to a stunning halt at the Etihad Stadium, as Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen secured a memorable 2-0 victory. This defeat marks City's first home loss in the competition's group phase since September 2018.
Guardiola's Team Selection Backfires
Pep Guardiola made the bold decision to make ten changes to the side that lost to Newcastle United, resting key players including the prolific Erling Haaland and creative force Phil Foden. Only Nico González retained his place from the weekend defeat. This wholesale reshuffle saw an experimental lineup featuring Tijjani Reijnders and Rico Lewis in advanced midfield roles, supporting a front three of Oscar Bobb, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho.
The ongoing absence of the influential Rodri was keenly felt, with City appearing vulnerable to counter-attacks that the Spanish midfielder typically snuffs out. Leverkusen repeatedly exploited this weakness, with Ernest Poku causing particular problems for the City defence.
Leverkusen Capitalise on Defensive Frailties
After several warning signs, the German side broke the deadlock in the first half. City were caught out centrally before the ball was switched to Ibrahim Maza on the right. His cross twisted the home defence, allowing Christian Kofane to touch back for captain Alejandro Grimaldo, who drove a low shot past James Trafford into the corner.
Guardiola responded at half-time by introducing Nico O'Reilly, Jérémy Doku, and Phil Foden, but the changes backfired almost immediately. Just after the restart, Patrik Schick rose above a sleeping Nathan Aké to direct a header beyond Trafford from another Maza cross, doubling Leverkusen's advantage.
Haaland's Late Introduction Fails to Inspire Comeback
The camera immediately panned to Erling Haaland warming up, and the Norwegian superstar was introduced alongside Rayan Cherki on 65 minutes to a roar of anticipation from the home supporters. Haaland instantly made his presence felt, first with a headed opportunity and then with a characteristic surge that forced Mark Flekken into a save at his feet.
Despite City dominating the closing stages and creating several chances, they couldn't find a way past the resilient Leverkusen defence. The visitors held firm to secure a famous victory that raises questions about City's current form and Guardiola's rotation policy ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture against Leeds.
The result underscores a wider truth emerging this season: Manchester City are no longer the relentless winning machine they once appeared. With defensive vulnerabilities and a concerning reliance on Haaland for goals, Guardiola faces significant challenges in rediscovering the consistency that has defined his tenure.
