Thanks for joining me this evening, it was an excellent game to watch. Make sure you tune in for more Champions League reaction and for Monday’s draw for the knockout rounds.
Here is Sid Lowe’s report from Valencia v Manchester United.
Manchester City will face one of Atletico, Roma, Schalke and Ajax. You’d think they would want to face the latter two, but Ajax have been sensational this season in the Champions League.
Bye!
Pep speaks!
On Leroy Sane: “He was so good, so aggressive. First goal was amazing, second was a little bit lucky as the control was not so good.”
On the missed chances: “We are young. Our players are 21, 22, so we need to learn and be calm in those situations.”
On Phil Foden: “Incredible, he’s an amazing player, he’s a fighter, with body shape he is a master. He has a lot of competition with David Silva and Kevin [De Bruyne] but he is ready for this level.”
There also a word from Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann:
The pride outweighs everything else. We played a good game and held up for the majority of the game. We deservedly went into the lead and didn’t give them much for extended periods of time. “I’m proud of our Champions League performances. This cub had some great moments and I hope that there can be many more.”
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Here is Jamie Jackson’s match report from the Etihad.
Here are the final 16, then. The draw is on Monday – Manchester City are the only English side to top their group.
🏆 UEFA Champions League last 16!
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 12, 2018
CONFIRMED ✅
Best team left in the #UCL? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/7ecHZBlyNL
Sané speaks!
We made it hard for ourselves. I was thinking of whether to shoot from the free-kick as it was quite a distance. With the three-on-one, I saw the goalkeeper coming out so I thought I would give the assist to Bernardo. I should have shot.
Foden speaks!
I enjoyed it, to get 90 minutes under my belt. We got off to a slow start, but got the win.
For all tonight’s Champions League scores, click here.
For the latest (and final) Champions League tables, click here.
Ooooof, correction to that last tweet from Lineker. There were three goals in the final five minutes between Ajax and Bayern, which ended 3-3. Both teams qualify from Group E.
Not sure the last two are too much of a surprise.
Sock night: CSKA beat Real Madrid. Ajax beating Bayern. Young Boys beating Juve. Valencia beating Man United. Tories beat the Tories.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 12, 2018
Have to say Hoffenheim’s supporters have been magnificent tonight. Hoffenheim went down in flames, but the players go across to applaud a full away section at an otherwise empty Emirates. Hoffenheim finish bottom of Group F in Nagelsmann’s final European game in charge of the club.
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Still going in the Ukraine. It’s still 1-1 between Shakhtar and Lyon, so Lyon will progress in second place as things stand.
Full-time: Manchester City 2-1 Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim send Baumann up from the back for a corner, but it’s a poor corner from Amiri and City clear. The referee calls it.
90+1 min: Lots of late goals elsewhere in the Champions League. You can catch up on all the live scores right here.
90 min: Two minutes added on here.
89 min: This game has been mental, and ridiculously Hoffenheim have a chance to level the scores: Nelson cuts inside Delph but his cross is deflected behind. Next City break on the counter-attack, Sané showing Belfoil a clean set of heels, but a loose final pass to Sterling runs through to Baumann. City had four on three there …
87 min: “I’m sure this won’t be the most recent but as an opening bid I’ll suggest Alan Thompson for Celtic against Liverpool in 2003,” emails Gerry Scott.
14 years ago today, Celtic defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield with goals from @JohnHartson10 and Alan Thompson.pic.twitter.com/GgjUJL1X8z
— CelticBible (@CelticBible) March 20, 2017
86 min: City make their final change: Kompany comes on for Bernardo Silva, the Belgian nabbing the armband off Otamendi.
84 min: Sterling misses a sitter! Foden, now operating on the right, whips a cross into towards Sterling, who is completely unmarked but volleys wide from eight yards out. A terrible miss, but another good ball from Foden, who has grown into the game and delivered dangerous crosses from wide a few times this evening.
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81 min: I was just about to praise the impact of Kyle Walker this second half, and then he nearly gives away a penalty for handball then fouls Joelinton on the edge of City’s box.
Joelinton got a yellow card about 10 minutes ago, by the way for a trip on Sterlin. Sorry about that. A lot going on.
79 min: Thoroughly enjoying this game. It’s been frantic from the first whistle. Not sure what is does for Nagelsmann’s tactical credentials but at least it’s been fun. Fourteen attempts by City in this second half alone.
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77 min: For those catching up, Manchester United are 2-0 down in Valencia, courtesy of a comical own goal from Phil Jones.
74 min: Another sensational save from Baumann! A City cross comes in from the right, Foden meets it flush on the volley from 10 yards out and Baumann reacts quickly, tipping the ball just over the bar. The Hoffenheim keeper is definitely my man-of-the-match, it should be about 5-1 to City.
72 min: Hoffenheim have made their final change by the way: Belfodil comes on for Bittencourt. Belfodil, an Algerian, spent most of the first half chatting to his compatriot Riyad Mahrez on the sidelines.
70 min: I’m going to throw this one open to the floor. It’s a good question, and I’d like to know the answer.
Do get in touch: you can email me or tweet @michaelbutler18.
@michaelbutler18 When was the last time an Englishmen playing for a non-English club scored against an English club? Could have been Nelson but we'll have to wait now.
— Zienata Silviestu (@silquantum) December 12, 2018
68 min: It’s still an intriguing open game here. Both teams have had chances in the last couple of minutes: Hoffenheim’s Joelinton and City’s Foden both shooting a couple of yards over the bar.
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66 min: There’s been a goal in this group’s other game, and its a big one: Lyon have equalised 1-1 against Shakhtar, in doing so have regained their second place behind Manchester City. They will qualify if the results stay like this.
64 min: Free-kick to City, right on the edge of Hoffenheim’s box, Hübner clattering into Gabriel Jesus, with the captain getting a yellow card. Grillitsch also picked up a booking for dissent, although there wasn’t much to argue, as clear a yellow as you are likely to see. Sané is on a hat-trick but it is Gundogan who tries his luck from 20 yards, but he clips the ball just over Baumann’s crossbar. He couldn’t get it up and down over the wall.
63 min: Both managers make changes, I wonder if the game will stay this open. Delph comes on for Zinchenko in a straight swap for City, while Hoffenheim take off Geiger for Amiri.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Hoffenheim (Sané 61)
City finally put one away. Once again it was a lightning counter-attack that undid Hoffenheim, who seemingly have no interest in defending their goal. One clean sheet in 19 appearances this season by the way. Sterling and Sané play a 30-yard one-two, Sané is clean though again … he sort of mis-controls the ball and this actually throws Baumann off, with Sané able to pass the ball into an empty net.
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57 min: The game is ridiculously open. Hoffenheim are playing such an attacking formation, and it pays off, Nelson goes through on goal! But Ederson speads himself and saves the day for City! What is going on?!
55 min: Hoffenheim have a corner, City clear and listen to this: Sterling is clean through on goal, even though he is just outside his own box. With every outfield Hoffenheim player forward, nothing but 100 yards of green grass separates Sterling and Baumann in goal, and the English international sprints towards goal. As Sterling bears down on goal, he squares the ball to the supporting Sané, who should shoot, but he again cuts the ball back to Bernardo Silva, who fluffs the chance! Bernardo Silva wasn’t expecting the ball and he can only shoot against Baumann. Everybody looks bewildered. Pep has his head in his hands.
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53 min: Sensational counter-attack from City, but another Baumann save keeps the scores at 1-1. Bernardo Silva and Sterling exchange passes – the latter with a sublime back-heel – to release Gabriel Jesus, who is forced wide but cuts back inside and shoots: Baumann sticks out a left boot and toes it wide! The German keeper is having a blinder!
51 min: Joelinton shrugs off Walker – and you don’t see that too often – on the way to the City byline and crosses to the near post but Ederson is there again.
49 min: Double save from Baumann! Laporte comes crashing in at the back post to connect with an outswinging Sané corner, but Baumann gets his body in the way from point-blank range, and then spreads himself to foil Laporte again on the rebound. The officials actually rule that the ball went out for a goal-kick on the way into the box from the corner, but Baumann wasn’t to know that. Both goalkeepers have performed very well here.
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47 min: Zinchenko nutmegs Nelson with a backheel. Welcome to the game, young man.
The players are back out at the Etihad. Both managers are making changes. Reiss Nelson is on (!) for Brenet for the visitors. Guardiola has made what seems to be a tactical change: Walker on for Stones. Peeeeeep! We’re underway again.
Here is how things stand in City’s group then.
This is a good stat.
🇭🇷 Andrej Kramarić has now scored in 9 matches in a row for club & country 🔥🔥🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/wzIMUBGpP9
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 12, 2018
Half-time reading
Half-time: Manchester City 1-1 Hoffenheim
I’m struggling to think of a better free-kick this season. Wonderful stuff from the German against the German side. City level, and they march off the pitch to This Charming Man.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Hoffenheim (Sané 45+1)
WHAT. A. GOAL. Sané hits it powerfully over the wall and into the top corner! Baumann had no chance. A shot with curve, spin, pace. Wow.
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45 min: Gabriel Jesus, who has been tackled to within an inch of his life this half, draws a foul 30 yards from goal. It’s a little soft, but City have a free-kick just before half-time. One minute added on here for injury-time.
42 min: Captain Hübner has been magnificent thus far tonight for Hoffenheim at the back. This is only his second appearance of the season, owing to a nasty concussion earlier this year.
40 min: Sterling picks the pocket of Bittencourt, drives to the byline and Hoffenheim are exposed! The Englishman cuts the ball back to Foden, in acres at the top of the D, but Adams gets out to him well to make a terrific block! Foden probably took too long to get his shot off. City’s best chance from open play.
38 min: Another strong tackle, this time from Adams on Gabriel Jesus, sets up a Hoffenheim counter-attack. Schulz overlaps on the left and drives a dangerous low cross, but Kramaric can’t get on the end of it. Gabriel Jesus is still down, but it looked a fair tackle. Hoffenheim are digging in well here!
35 min: Manchester United are trailing in Valencia. All the latest right here.
33 min: City having plenty of the ball, but can’t seem to fashion any chances. Their biggest threat is from set pieces, and right on cue Dennis Geiger chops down Leroy Sane on the left hand edge of Hoffenheim’s box. Gundogan fizzes a brilliant cross in towards the near post, Otamendi gets a flick and the ball crashes onto the crossbar and away! Another close shave for Hoffenheim, who still lead 1-0.
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30 min: Hoffenheim putting in some physical tackles in midfield. Hoffenheim’s huge Brazilian forward, Joelinton, is working very hard to close the ball down. No complaints, to be fair, from Bernardo Silva or Leroy Sané.
29 min:
@michaelbutler18
— Angelos Themelis (@AngelosThemelis) December 12, 2018
Who's the referee in tonight's game, please@ManCity
It’s Andreas Ekberg, from Sweden.
27 min: I can confirm the Cardigan Curse is catching at City. Look at this effort from Agüero. Jesus. The Argentinian watching tonight of course, he’s injured.
25 min: Goal in the other group game in the Ukraine! Shakhtar have taken the lead against Lyon, so they have leapfrogged the Ligue 1 side into second place in Group F. Hoffenheim still bottom and City still top, even if it ends 1-0 here.
24 min: City beginning to enjoy their first period of possession. Foden and Sterling try and one-two on the edge of the box, but it doesn’t quite come off.
21 min: Brilliant save from Baumann! Another Gundogan set piece causes Hoffenheim problems, Stones gets up above Adams six yards out, heads down powerfully but the German keeper somehow gets across to it, and falls on the rebound! City haven’t played well but they could easily have scored twice in the last three minutes.
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Gabriel Jesus hits the post!
19 min: Gabriel Jesus has a free header four yards out from a corner, but can only plant his header onto the foot of the left post! A terrible miss! Laporte can’t turn the rebound in, and Hoffenheim hack it away. Not sure what Adamz was doing with his marking, but Hoffenheim got away with one there.
17 min: We have a game on our hands. Pep Guardiola is shifting nervously in his seat, and has sent Kyle Walker out to warm up. City badly need to adjust their shape, I would’t be surprised if they didn’t make a tactical change in this first half. At least Pep isn’t wearing that cardigan, although I’m not sure what City’s kit sponsor will think of that jacket.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Hoffenheim (Kramaric pen 15)
No less than Hoffenheim deserve. From the resulting corner, Laporte is penalised for a blatant pull in the box. Kramaric makes no mistake, slotting his penalty down the middle as Ederson dived to his right. Laporte was a little lucky not to see a red card for that.
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14 min: Brilliant, brilliant save from Ederson! Kramaric cuts inside on his favoured right, bends a brilliant shot towards the top corner but the Brazilian keeper somehow gets a fingertip to it and turns it around the post! That was postage-stamp stuff, I honestly don’t know how Ederson got to it!
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12 min: Hoffenheim break at pace. Schulz, who has been lively on the left, sprints forward, cuts the ball back to Kramaric and the Croatian blazes over from the top of the box! He took it first time and should have done better.
10 min: City are all over the shop defensively. They don’t seem to know what they are doing with their midfield shape, which looks something like this. Gundogan at the base of midfield, Foden and Bernardo Silva in front of him, with Sane and Sterling on the left and right wings.
9 min: Gabriel Jesus finds some space for the first time in an advanced area, but another crunching tackle from Hübner leaves the Brazilian wincing on the deck. Oooooof! Proper tackle, that.
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7 min: City a little sloppy here. Foden, Bernardo Silva and Sterling have all given the ball away thus far.
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5 min: Very interested to see how Hoffenheim get on with three at the back against this City side. They’ve started well. Instinct tells me Pep is a big of a Nagelsmann fanboy.
3 min: An almighty coming-together between Hoffenheim’s captain, Hübner, and Sterling, right on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area. It’s a blatant body-check, an obvious foul, but the referee waves play on. Weird non-decision.
2 min: Hoffenheim start on the front foot, harrying Zinchenko into a sloppy back pass. Stones is the next City defender to be targeted with a high press, and the England defender does well to be fair – holding off Schulz and winning a free-kick on his own byline.
Peeeeeeeep! We’re finally underway.
The players finally emerge. We should have kicked off three minutes ago. The Champions League anthem blares out, and is booed, as is customary at the Etihad on account of the FFP. Which is a bit pathetic really.
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The City and Hoffenheim players are standing in the tunnel, and ready to come out, but haven’t emerged because everything needs to be done in sync with the other group game between Shakhtar and Lyon. There’s a slight delay in snowy Kiev so we’re also running late here.
Full-time at the Bernabeu: 3-0 to CSKA. That’s Real Madrid’s worst ever home result in Europe. Wow.
Still not enough to secure Europa League football for CSKA though, because Viktoria Plzen have beaten Roma 2-1 at home to nab third in Group G!
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We mentioned how hectic Hoffenheim’s Champions League campaign had be. It sounds as though their Bundesliga season has been the same under their 31-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann, who will become RB Leipzig’s manager from next season.
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CSKA Moscow are now 3-0 up at Real Madrid. Somewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is laughing.
What is happening at the Bernabeu?! 😱
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 12, 2018
Arnor Sigurdsson puts CSKA Moscow 3-0 up on Real Madrid on a night the Russian side will never forget! pic.twitter.com/cP31cs7DmY
For a man as stylish as Guardiola, I can’t believe that he left the house in this on Saturday at Chelsea. A wool cardigan with a waterproof hood. Honestly.
The BT Sport pundits are discussing if Manchester City need another striker to win the Champions League, which is nonsense, partly because Gabriel Jesus is very good at football and partly because with this FFP cloud circling the Etihad, they can’t really afford to go out and get another elite forward. Who would they sign anyway that would improve the squad but also happy to second or third choice behind Agüero?
Steve McManaman has suggested bringing back young forward Lukas Nmecha (brother to Felix who is on the bench tonight), who is on loan at Preston. Lukas has scored nil times in 19 appearances this season. Not sure he’s ready for Pep.
Breaking: two hot takes on tonight’s match.
@michaelbutler18 if city draw and Lyon topple the group then we'll know for sure UEFA is bent
— Jiri Krb (@JiriKrb) December 12, 2018
Control your mind and you control the game ! 🕹🧠⚽ pic.twitter.com/PSueqt3xhA
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) December 12, 2018
In the early kick-offs in Group G, Real Madrid are 2-0 down at home to CSKA Moscow and Roma are losing 1-0 to Viktoria Plzen. Both would be shock results but don’t actually have an effect on the standings as things stand. If Roma can turn it around and Real lose, they Serie A side would top the group.
For the live, up-to-date Champions League tables, click here.
Sadly, Hoffenheim’s No9 on loan from Arsenal, Reiss Nelson, is on the bench.
Reiss Nelson celebrates his 19th birthday today 🎂
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 10, 2018
He's currently averaging a goal every 64 minutes in the Bundesliga this season 🙌
This one surely has to be the pick of them 😍pic.twitter.com/KBcSpHqGZ6
A start for Phil Foden then, in a week that he has signed a new five-and-a-half year contract at City, and also a first appearance on the first-team bench for Felix Nmecha, a young German midfielder who has impressed in the Premier League 2 and the Under-23s.
Step up, @FelixNmecha 💪#mancity pic.twitter.com/PbZKxy6vkF
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 12, 2018
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Tonight's teams
City have named an XI with one central midfielder, four wingers and one striker so I have no idea what formation they are playing. I would guess a 4-1-4-1, but who knows.
Manchester City
Ederson; Stones, Laporte, Otamendi (c), Zinchenko; Gundogan; Foden, Sane, Bernardo, Sterling; Jesus.
Hoffenheim 3-4-3
Baumann; Geiger, Nuhu, Hübner; Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Bittencourt, Schulz; Brenet, Kramaric, Joelinton.
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Preamble
Hello world, come on a journey with me. Manchester City have just 15 players fit, anything less than a win and they could be toppled as Group F winners by Lyon – who travel to Shakhtar tonigh – and Raheem Sterling, apparently the Premier League’s best player in November, will be playing.
3️⃣ goals
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 12, 2018
3️⃣ assists@EASPORTSFIFA Player of the Month for a fantastic November - @sterling7 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rdLPfC5Jix
I might have been tempted to give it to Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira or Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko but three goals and three assists ain’t half bad. With David Silva out a for “few weeks”, Fernandinho, Danilo, Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy also sidelined, Sterling will likely be central to Pep Guardiola’s attacking plans tonight.
Hoffenheim have had a weird Champions League campaign thus far, but it’s been action packed. Their five matches to date include two red cards, no wins, two 2-2 draws, one 3-3 draw in which they scored an equaliser in the 92nd minute, and two defeats – both of which they conceded in the final minutes. Ooooosh.
All of which means they are down in fourth place, but not out of Europa League qualification. A win here in Manchester and a Lyon loss in the Ukraine would see them just into third place. I’m expecting goals.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
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