Phil Foden settles Bellingham debate as Guardiola faces new issue at Man City.
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Phil Foden bending a long-range effort into the top corner. (Image: Getty)
Manchester City drew 3-3 in a Champions League thriller with Real Madrid full of quality from two of the world’s most talented teams.
Bernardo Silva caught Andriy Lunin out with a free-kick in the second minute, but two deflected strikes from Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo sent the Bernabeu into raptures in the first half. Then a pair of incredible strikes from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol stunned the hosts before Federico Valverde hit back with another fabulous volley to set up a blockbuster return fixture at the Etihad.
Here, Express Sport runs the rule over the biggest talking points, including a taunting celebration. Fortunately for Southgate, Bellingham has also excelled in a deeper role at Borussia Dortmund and may have to sacrifice some attacking elements of his game to accommodate Foden, with the City star’s wondergoal clear evidence of the magic Foden is able to produce.
Pep Guardiola delighted with Phil Foden after his incredible strike. (Image: Getty)
Pep Guardiola handed new dilemma.
Once again Foden has shown that he thrives in a central role, this time afforded to him through the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian missed out through illness but likely would have forced the England star out wide to accommodate his ability as a number 10 if available.
But Guardiola cannot keep turning Foden away and the time has arrived for he and De Bruyne to play through the middle together. The boss has experimented with two attacking options alongside Rodri recently against Crystal Palace, and although the Premier League run-in won’t be seen as the time to tinker, both players in their preferred roles could elevate City to an even higher level.
Jude Bellingham shows bite in Ruben Dias duel. Bellingham can perhaps feel fortunate that he is not suspended for the second leg at the Etihad, after biting back in his battle with City centre-back Ruben Dias.
The Portuguese defender had crunched Bellingham in a bruising tackle on the half way line in the first half, leaving the 20-year-old in a heap on the floor, but Bellingham was quick to get his revenge. A few minutes later, Dias passed the ball onto Manuel Akanji and with the ball heading towards its intended target, Bellingham came through the back of Dias, likely with the intention of letting the defender know he cannot be bossed around.
However, as one of four Madrid players who were a yellow card away from missing the second leg, Bellingham is fortunate that his elbow into Dias was not deemed an offence worthy of a caution. Without De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva stepped up as City’s conductor and with just 109 seconds played, the Portuguese midfielder gave Lunin the eyes and embarrassed Madrid’s goalkeeper.
The Ukrainian stopper had placed just Vinicius Jr in the wall after Jack Grealish earned the visitors a free-kick 25 yards out. Lunin had expected Silva, not on the ideal side for a left-footer, to lift the ball into the box for a cross.
But Silva had another idea and cheekily bent his free-kick around Vinicius and Lunin was unable to react to the quick-thinking in time, helpless to prevent an opening goal and a nightmare start for the La Liga leaders. City supporters will have watched on as the Portuguese forward transformed into one of the football’s greatest at Old Trafford, inspiring a new generation, including the man who grabbed Madrid’s second goal.
Kyle Walker has so often been Guardiola’s foil against the world’s top forwards. As often as City dazzle in possession, defence wins Champions Leagues and Walker has been key against the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi before them.
Without Walker’s pace, City struggled to keep as high a line as they would like, while his ability to defend one-on-one was sorely missed. As capable a defender as Akanji is, Madrid were able to find joy down his flank and the right-back was unable to fill the boots of Walker.
City will be desperate for the England defender to return in time for the second leg.
