Read our on-the-whistle report for Manchester City vs Galatasaray in the Champions League
Manchester City secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium.
City began the evening outisde of the top-eight positions in the league phase but goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, alongside other results going their way, ensured it was a relatively comfortable evening for Pep Guardiola’s side.
After a poor league phase campaign last season saw them go on to be eliminated by Real Madrid in the play-offs last season, City will be delighted to have made no mistake in securing their route straight through to the knockout round proper this time around.
A nervous wait followed at the final whistle as results flooded through, with a late Real Madrid goal at Benfica potentially seeing City knocked out of the top eight – but some five minutes later, the Etihad were finally able to celebrate as the full-time whistle went in Portugal to confirm a sensational 4-2 win for the hosts.
Haaland and Cherki settle early nerves
Amidst the chaos of the final night of league phase action, City’s task was simple – win, and hope the other results go their way to secure top eight.
And they should have been ahead only a few minutes in when Haaland couldn’t get his header on target from a delicious Rayan Ait-Nouri cross in a chance that he really should have buried.
But not long later, Haaland’s goal drought was over as he raced onto a Jeremy Doku through ball before a typically-composed chip into the back of the net. The goal brought City back into the top eight for the time being at least and settle some nerves inside the Etihad.
Nico O’Reilly was unfortunate not to make it 2-0 with a great strike from 22 yards but goalkeeper Ugurcan Cekir denied the youngster with an excellent save, before Gianluigi Donnarumma had to be on hand to keep out a Victor Osimhen strike.
But City’s evening continued to play out exactly as hopes when some more good work from Doku saw the winger cut the ball back for Cherki, who nestled the ball into the near corner.
Phil Foden, on for the injured Doku, should have made it 3-0 before half-time after being found by Ait-Nouri but the midfielder skied the effort high and wide.
City get the job done
Another good chance came Osimhen’s way after being presented with a free header from a corner but once again the striker put it straight at Donnarumma.
Omar Marmoush then spurned a great chance to wrap the game up with a third but his finish was straight at the keeper. The bright Ait-Nouri could easily have found that third moments later after a nice link-up with Cherki but his goal-bound shot was blocked.
Osimhen and Haaland could easily have scored for their sides in a pair of chances at both ends but neither striker could get convincing enough touches to slide the ball in.
While they were yet to wrap the game up properly, City’s place in the last 16 was still secured as results continued to go their way, thought there was still the sense a third needed to come to put it beyond doubt as Galatasaray continued to probe.
Another chance came Osimhen’s way and once again the Nigerian didn’t do enough with the finish and that was that from the Etihad as City marched into the last 16.