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Played
September 15, 2011 12:15 AM IST
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee: J. Eriksson
Attendance: 44026
September 15, 2011 12:15 AM IST
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee: J. Eriksson
Attendance: 44026
Top of the Match
Marek Hamsik
Napoli
Napoli
Edin Dzeko
Manchester City
Manchester City
Flop of the Match
Salvatore Aronica
Napoli
Napoli
Samir Nasri
Manchester City
Manchester City
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Manchester City 1-1 Napoli: Aleksandar Kolarov Rescues A Point For Roberto Mancini's Men In Champions League Debut
Despite dominating posession, the home side were frustrated and nearly defeated by an impressive Serie A outfit as their announcement on the elite stage did not quite go to plan
By George Ankers
Getty Images
Manchester City were forced to settle for a draw in their first foray into Champions League football, with Aleksandar Kolarov rescuing the point with a fine free-kick after Edinson Cavani had stolen the advantage for Napoli in the second half.
City recalled Edin Dzeko to the starting line-up after resting him against Wigan, with former captain Carlos Tevez kept to the bench as Roberto Mancini made five changes. Napoli were able to field a full-strength side, with their pivotal front trio of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Cavani all playing.
The home side looked ominous right from the start, showing off some clever passes, culminating in Samir Nasri flashing wide with the first chance of the night having been backheeled the ball by Dzeko.
City monopolised the ball in Napoli’s third during the first ten minutes, with Dzeko holding the ball up well. The Bosnian striker was then allowed a free header from a corner that nearly found Sergio Aguero free at the far post but for goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis’ block.
Dzeko came close himself soon after when, on the break, Aguero loosed his strike partner down the right with a through ball. The 25-year-old hit a decent shot toward the far post but de Sanctis reacted well to deflect it wide.
But the visitors reminded spectators why they were one of Serie A’s most exciting sides last season when they broke in the seventeenth minute. Argentine forward Lavezzi snuck past Vincent Kompany into the box and deftly shot past Joe Hart, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar. The contest was becoming more even.
After a competitive and fast-paced ten minutes, City should have taken the lead as Yaya Toure was gifted the ball straight from a Napoli corner, bursting forward through the middle and feeding Aguero on the right. The striker danced inside the penalty area before teeing up Toure who arrived late, but the Ivorian leant back just a little too much and crashed his shot against the bar rather than bury it in the near-open net.
Half-time arrived with City surely wishing they had scored early, when they had been all over the visitors, but Napoli would undoubtably have been pleased with their growing steeliness in an even half.
After the resumption, Napoli were quicker out of the blocks, and Hamsik was supplied at the right post thanks to great work from Zuniga on the left, but his sidefooted shot was removed bravely from the goal-line by Kompany, who stood firm.
The hosts responded not long after, though, and nearly exposed yet again Napoli’s poor defence of corners, with Joleon Lescott allowed an untroubled headed effort, but nodding it too high to be of any threat.
In the following minutes City ground to a halt in the face of the Italians’ resolute defending, and the home side’s party was well and truly crashed as Napoli got what had seemed was coming to them, rushing forward on the break with pace and style. Cavani was played through with a perfect pass by Christian Maggio, finding himself one-on-one with Hart, and finished beautifully between his legs to take the lead.
Shocked, City suddenly sparked into life again and once again hit the woodwork. Nasri burst through the left and supplied Aguero with a low cross, but the Argentine could only flick onto the bar, but in the aftermath, the Italians conceded a free-kick just outside the area. The left-back Aleksandar Kolarov stepped up and blasted a devastatingly simple shot into the top corner to reignite his side.
Reminded of their early supremacy, Mancini’s men lit up once more, with Dzeko attempting an ambitious turn-and-shot having been found by substitute Adam Johnson, but the Bosnian had ignored David Silva, who was awaiting ammunition for a tap-in.
Both teams sought a winner in the final minutes but neither could make the breakthrough and it ended, quite fairly, with a point each.
City recalled Edin Dzeko to the starting line-up after resting him against Wigan, with former captain Carlos Tevez kept to the bench as Roberto Mancini made five changes. Napoli were able to field a full-strength side, with their pivotal front trio of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Cavani all playing.
The home side looked ominous right from the start, showing off some clever passes, culminating in Samir Nasri flashing wide with the first chance of the night having been backheeled the ball by Dzeko.
City monopolised the ball in Napoli’s third during the first ten minutes, with Dzeko holding the ball up well. The Bosnian striker was then allowed a free header from a corner that nearly found Sergio Aguero free at the far post but for goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis’ block.
Dzeko came close himself soon after when, on the break, Aguero loosed his strike partner down the right with a through ball. The 25-year-old hit a decent shot toward the far post but de Sanctis reacted well to deflect it wide.
But the visitors reminded spectators why they were one of Serie A’s most exciting sides last season when they broke in the seventeenth minute. Argentine forward Lavezzi snuck past Vincent Kompany into the box and deftly shot past Joe Hart, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar. The contest was becoming more even.
After a competitive and fast-paced ten minutes, City should have taken the lead as Yaya Toure was gifted the ball straight from a Napoli corner, bursting forward through the middle and feeding Aguero on the right. The striker danced inside the penalty area before teeing up Toure who arrived late, but the Ivorian leant back just a little too much and crashed his shot against the bar rather than bury it in the near-open net.
Half-time arrived with City surely wishing they had scored early, when they had been all over the visitors, but Napoli would undoubtably have been pleased with their growing steeliness in an even half.
After the resumption, Napoli were quicker out of the blocks, and Hamsik was supplied at the right post thanks to great work from Zuniga on the left, but his sidefooted shot was removed bravely from the goal-line by Kompany, who stood firm.
The hosts responded not long after, though, and nearly exposed yet again Napoli’s poor defence of corners, with Joleon Lescott allowed an untroubled headed effort, but nodding it too high to be of any threat.
In the following minutes City ground to a halt in the face of the Italians’ resolute defending, and the home side’s party was well and truly crashed as Napoli got what had seemed was coming to them, rushing forward on the break with pace and style. Cavani was played through with a perfect pass by Christian Maggio, finding himself one-on-one with Hart, and finished beautifully between his legs to take the lead.
Shocked, City suddenly sparked into life again and once again hit the woodwork. Nasri burst through the left and supplied Aguero with a low cross, but the Argentine could only flick onto the bar, but in the aftermath, the Italians conceded a free-kick just outside the area. The left-back Aleksandar Kolarov stepped up and blasted a devastatingly simple shot into the top corner to reignite his side.
Reminded of their early supremacy, Mancini’s men lit up once more, with Dzeko attempting an ambitious turn-and-shot having been found by substitute Adam Johnson, but the Bosnian had ignored David Silva, who was awaiting ammunition for a tap-in.
Both teams sought a winner in the final minutes but neither could make the breakthrough and it ended, quite fairly, with a point each.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
|
Mario Gomez
Striker FC Bayern München |
13 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
|
Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |