Kompany out for up to six weeks as injury nightmare continues

On Wednesday night City drew 1-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach to seal passage to the Champions League knockout stage, with Guardiola using four different defensive units.

Barca will finish top of the group whatever the results from the final round of matches next month, and although Monchengladbach are only three points behind City, they can not finish above them. “We just have to ensure we perform and see what happens”.

Raffael and Fabian Johnson combined for the United States of America worldwide to test Claudio Bravo in the seventh minute and Andre Schubert’s team were increasingly encouraged by a disjointed City showing before taking the lead midway through the first half. While that isn’t exactly the ideal preparation for a game against one of the best teams in the country, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

“The result was good for both teams“.

City began in a 3-2-4-1 formation and Guardiola implemented various tweaks and changes throughout the match, but he rejected the notion that tactical confusion was behind a largely disjointed first-half showing.

Both sides had opportunities towards the end of the game, but neither could find a victor as City booked their place in the knockout rounds, while Gladbach will be hoping for Europa League qualification.

The Argentine worldwide scored a hat-trick when City beat Gladbach 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in September.

“Of course it is better to go to the half-time 1-1 than the other result”.

It was the Bundesliga side who opened the scoring as Lars Stindl shrugged off John Stones and cut the ball back for Raffael, put the ball past City keeper Claudio Bravo in the 23rd minute.

Had Barcelona not defeated Celtic, Pep Guardiola’s men would have needed to beat Gladbach, but it turned out that the Spanish giants earned a 2-0 win Glasgow.

Guendogan nearly equalised soon afterwards but his low shot saved by Yann Sommer.

The Citizens have a plethora of quality players at their disposal, namely Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and David Silva among others, but all eyes will be on Yaya Toure after the Ivorian netted a brace for City against Crystal Palace.

Sterling had another goal ruled out after the break, just before Stindl was sent off for a shoulder-block on Nicolas Otamendi.

Raffael had earlier thundered in the opener for the Foals in an exciting start to the match that petered out as both sides were reduced to 10 men.

City were poor in the first half, lacking sharpness and allowing Gladbach to create more chances than their visitors.

“It is hard to say how much self-confidence this game will give us for the Bundesliga”, coach Andre Schubert told reporters.