The Etihad Stadium bore witness to a record-breaking night for Premier League champions Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s men ran out 3-1 winners against La Liga outfit Sevilla, confirming passage into the knockout stage of the Champions League as group G winners.
Goals from Julián Álvarez, Riyad Mahrez, and a record-breaking strike from youngster Rico Lewis sealed a second-half comeback by Pep Guardiola’s men after Jorge Sampaoli’s Los Nervionenses took a 1-0 lead into the half-time interval in what was, at that point, a very difficult night for City who remained without the injured Erling Haaland and started with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and João Cancelo all on the bench.
A dream full debut! 😍💫
🔵 3-1 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/wJSAezAXgv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2022
City would come roaring back, however, first through Lewis’ strike that pulled the club level, while also becoming the youngest-ever player to score on his full Champions League debut in the competition’s history, which saw him voted man of the match.
Julián Álvarez showcased his credentials as well as he led the line in Haaland’s stead, with a goal of his own and a brace of assists that helped the club temporarily forget that the Norwegian goal machine was not suited up for duty in front of the home support, with his goal coming from a superb bit of quality displayed by De Bruyne to feed the Argentine just three minutes after the Belgian creator-in-chief was introduced off the bench.
Riyad Mahrez completed the 3-1 comeback seven minutes from full-time thanks to Álvarez pressing high up before forcing a turnover, to which he turned supplier once again for the Algerian to expertly cap off a second-half reversal commensurate with City’s quality.
Finishing as expected group winners leaves Guardiola’s men open to a round of 16 clash with one of Club Brugge, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan during a season where, after Haaland’s arrival, the club will no doubt push to finally bring home their first-ever Champions League trophy.
📰 Table Of Contents
Manchester City Player Ratings
RB: Rico Lewis (8) – Sensational stuff from the City academy product whose second-half strike earned him the right to be called the youngest-ever goalscorer on their first start in the Champions League, outstripping Karim Benzema’s previous record.
CB: Rúben Dias (7) – Normal service continues to resume by the Portuguese international who is hands down the top center-back at the club. Good throughout as usual.
CB: Aymeric Laporte (6.5) – Not a brilliant night for the Spanish defender but he was decent enough and did look to improve in the second half, as did the rest of his teammates.
LB: Sergio Gómez (6.5) – The Spanish youngster had an okay evening on the left side of the defense. His talent is unquestioned but he is still rough around the edges. Remains one for the future for sure, however.
DM: Ilkay Gündogan (6.5) – A somewhat off-night for the German midfield veteran on an evening where City was not at their best in the first half, but this is hardly a common theme for the former Dortmund man.
CM: Cole Palmer (6) – The City youngster received a big call to action tonight but was removed for Kevin De Bruyne as Pep Guardiola pushed for a win at the Etihad.
CM: Phil Foden (7.5) – Played well overall and perhaps can consider himself a bit unlucky to not find the back of the net and give City a fourth goal tonight in the dying embers of proceedings.
RW: Jack Grealish (6) – Another sub-standard display from the former Aston Villa star who continues to struggle at City. Serious questions will be asked if he should remain at the club past this season.
LW: Riyad Mahrez (8) – For all of City’s ability to bring in talent on big money and wages, Riyad Mahrez continues to produce in big moments for the Premier League champions and his goal put the result beyond doubt during a strong performance.
CF: Julián Álvarez (9) – A superb man-of-the-match performance from the young Argentine striker who led the line expertly in Erling Haaland’s stead, with a brace of assists and a fine goal of his own to lead City’s comeback.
Sub: Rodri (6.5) – Brought on to shore up the midfield in place of Grealish which saw Foden moved into a more forward role. Succeeded in his overall task as you would expect.
Sub: Bernardo Silva (6.5) – Given the night off as City expected to coast into the knockout stage but his services were required to help the club get over the line. He was solid enough in the 30-odd-minutes he was given.
Sub: Kevin De Bruyne (7.5) – As expected, De Bruyne helped change the game when he was brought on in the 70th minute, needing just three minutes to set up Álvarez for the match-winner with a customary delectable bit of service. Influential as ever.
Sub: Josh Wilson-Esbrand (6) – A decent twenty-minute cameo for another club academy product on a night that he will no doubt have enjoyed.
Sub: João Cancelo (6) – Brought on with five minutes left and allowed Lewis to receive the ovation he deserved on a fantastic night for the youngster. Cancelo was as you’d expect with limited minutes.
FC Sevilla Player Ratings
GK: Yassine Bounou (6)
RB: Gonzalo Montiel (6)
RCB: José Ángel Carmona (5)
CB: Marcão (6.5)
LCB: Karim Rekiik (5.5)
LB: Marcos Acuña (7)
RM: Rafa Mir (7)
CM: Ivan Rakitić (6.5)
CM: Thomas Delaney (6)
LM: Isco (7)
CF: Papu Gómez (6)
Sub: Nemanja Gudelj (6.5)
Sub: Suso (6)
Sub: Alex Telles (5)
Sub: Erik Lamela (6)
Sub: Joan Jordan (6)
Social Media
🏴 Jack Wilshere
🏴 Josh McEachran
🏴 Phil Foden
🏴 Jude Bellingham
🏴 Rico LewisManchester City’s Lewis is set to become the fifth Englishman to start a Champions League match before turning 18.#MCFC | #UCL
[@OptaJoe] pic.twitter.com/B5aGdLNPXL
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 2, 2022
“He’s so intelligent, so clever” 🤓
Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on 17-year-old Rico Lewis ahead of tonight’s game 🙏 pic.twitter.com/COC8gIN6yG
— LiveScore (@livescore) November 2, 2022
🔵 #UCL Team News 🔵
XI | Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Dias, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (c), Palmer, Foden, Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez
SUBS | Ederson, Carson, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity pic.twitter.com/5RKzJvDpkj
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2022
Our #UCL 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈! 🔥
⚪️ 7️⃣ changes 🔄
🔴 Rekik returns from injury 💪
⚪️ Bono back in goal 🧤 pic.twitter.com/O2RfwzGc3J— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) November 2, 2022
◉ Sevilla have lost every #UCL game they have played against Man City
◉ Man City have won 20 out of their last 22 #UCL home games
But there’s no Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne tonight…
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 2, 2022
¡GOL DEL SEVILLA! 🤩
Isco asiste y Rafa Mir sorprende al Manchester City 😱
🏴 Manchester City 0️⃣-1️⃣ Sevilla 🇪🇸
📽️: @Zona_TUDN#UCLpic.twitter.com/FMrxV2Jpyt
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) November 2, 2022
🔄 Marcao is forced off due to injury.
🔵 0⃣-1⃣ 🖤 (45+1′) #UCL pic.twitter.com/lkmqW41cS8
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) November 2, 2022
HALF-TIME | Behind at the break.
🔵 0-1 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/lovssmdP8g
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2022
🚨 SECOND HALF 🚨
The ball is rolling once again in Manchester, with City trailing to a header from Sevilla forward Rafa Mir (0-1).
Rodri replaces Jack Grealish for the next 45 minutes 🔄
Follow live text coverage and BBC Radio 5 Live commentary 📝🎧⤵️#BBCFootball #MCISEV
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 2, 2022
We have a new record holder!! 🤩
17-year-old Rico Lewis levels the scoring vs Sevilla to become Manchester City’s youngest ever scorer in #UCL history!!
And what a goal it was… pic.twitter.com/9a8h70yoVQ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 2, 2022
Only two English players have scored a Champions League goal before their 18th birthday:
◎ 17-year-old Jude Bellingham
◉ 17-year-old Rico LewisOne against Man City and now one for Man City. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/yzeXJHF2tv
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 2, 2022
17 – Aged 17 years and 346 days, Rico Lewis has become the youngest player in @ChampionsLeague history to score on his first start in the competition, breaking the record previously held by Karim Benzema (17 years 352 days for Lyon vs Rosenborg in 2005). Knockout. pic.twitter.com/AF4ApX04aa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2022
Scoring at 17-years-old in the Champions League would also leave us shook 😂
Rico Lewis 😱 pic.twitter.com/q0XktnHLIN
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 2, 2022
73. Alvarez fires home from a beautiful pass from KDB! 😍 🤝
🔵 2-1 🔴 #ManCity
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2022
83. Riyad whips it over the keeper to make it three!👌
🔵 3-1 🔴 #ManCity
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2022
