The good news is that Manchester City’s five-game losing streak is over. The bad news is that they are still winless in six and look nowhere near ready to face Liverpool this weekend after blowing a three-goal lead in the final 15 minutes to draw Feyenoord 3-3, at home, in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
[ MORE: UEFA Champions League table, leading scorers ]
When the four-time defending Premier League champions head to Anfield on Sunday, they will be playing for their title chances just 13 games into the season. Manchester City trail Liverpool by eight points in the table, but there feels a million miles between them when it comes to form and confidence.
When it rains, it pours… and this is Manchester
From the moment Feyenoord’s first goal went in on 75 minutes, Pep Guardiola appeared distraught on the bench — almost as if he understood the inevitable outcome and was powerless to stop it. The next two goals conceded were nothing short of a nightmare for Man City’s defense and goalkeeper Ederson. The Brazilian watched a shot/cross somehow squeeze between him and the post and somehow find its way to an unmarked Santiago Gimenez at the back post in the 82nd minute, but the real blemish was his whiffed header five yards outside the penalty area in the 89th.
In Ederson’s defense, the entire City defense was beaten and he was the only one who could make a game-saving play. His gamble that clearing the ball himself was the higher percentage chance — and maybe it was — but it didn’t pay off. Perhaps the one advantage that Manchester City have on Sunday is the extra day of recovery and preparation, with Liverpool set to face Real Madrid in an epic clash of giants on Wednesday.
Player ratings - Manchester City vs Feyenoord
What’s next?
- Liverpool vs Manchester City — Sunday (11 am ET)
- Juventus vs Manchester City — Dec. 11 (next UCL fixture)
Manchester City vs Feyenoord live updates - by Andy Edwards
Manchester City vs Feyenoord final score: 3-3
Goalscorers: Erling Haaland (44' - PK, 53'), Ilkay Gundogan (50'), Anis Hadj Moussa (75'), Santiago Gimenez (82'), David Hancko (89')
GOAL! Man City 3-3 Feyenoord: David Hancko heads Igor Paixao’s floated cross to complete the comeback (89')
FEYENOORD COME BACK FROM 3-0 DOWN TO STUN MANCHESTER CITY 😱 pic.twitter.com/HWB2NGMOjN
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024
GOAL! Man City 3-2 Feyenoord: Santiago Gimenez taps in a shot/cross off the post (82')
GOAL! Man City 3-1 Feyenoord: Anis Hadj Moussa pulls one back with a bit of time left (75')
GOAL! Man City 3-0 Feyenoord: Erling Haaland taps Matheus Nunes’ pass home for 3-0 (53')
44 games. 46 goals. There's no stopping Erling Haaland 😤 pic.twitter.com/RRxulOPvVF
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024
GOAL! Man City 2-0 Feyenoord: Ilkay Gundogan finds the back of the net through traffic (50')
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Feyenoord: Erling Haaland converts from the penalty spot (44')
Erling Haaland is now the fastest player to 50 goal contributions in #UCL history 🌟 pic.twitter.com/36pExi7dAo
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson - Lewis, Akanji, Aje, Gvardiol - Gundogan, Nunes, Bernardo - Forden, Grealish, Haaland
Feyenoord starting lineup
Wellenreuther - Nieuwkoop, Trauner, Hancko, Smal - Timber, Hwang, Milambo - Moussa, Paixao, Carranza
How to watch Manchester City vs Feyenoord live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (November 26)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Manchester City team news, focus
Kevin de Bruyne is back fit and ready to start, which is a massive boost, while it will be intriguing to see if Pep Guardiola will start with John Stones or Manuel Akanji in central midfield to try and plug the Rodri gap. Defensively City have so many moving parts and have barely had a settled lineup in defense this season due to injuries. Pep needs to find the right combinations to make City tougher to counter on. Going forward they will be fine and Erling Haaland is due a breakout game.
OUT: Rodri (knee - out for season), Ruben Dias (muscular), Oscar Bobb (lower leg), Mateo Kovacic (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Jeremy Doku (thigh), Matheus Nunes (undisclosed)
Feyenoord team news, focus
The Dutch giants have a host of injury issues with Ibrahim Osman, Ayase Ueda and Quilindschy Hartman all out until January. Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez is also out injured but is close to a return. There are doubts over Quinten Timber (twin brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien), Hugo Bueno and Jordan Lotomba too. Feyenoord will look to former Philadelphia Union striker Julian Carranza to make the most of chances on the counter.
Manchester City vs Feyenoord prediction
No matter their struggles, this feels like a game City will win. They will dish out a demolition to someone soon because as bad as they were at the back against Tottenham they still created so many chances in attack. Manchester City 4-1 Feyenoord.
