Manchester City ease through despite rare home loss to Basel

Manchester City advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals despite suffering their first home defeat in over a year.

The English club go through 5-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat by Swiss champions Basel on Wednesday.

City won the first leg 4-0 and unsurprisingly their manager Pep Guardiola chose to leave key players on the bench.

None of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero or goalkeeper Ederson featured in the game.

The evening began positively for Pep Guardiola’s side, unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League home matches, when Brazilian Gabriel Jesus put them ahead in the eighth minute.

German winger Leroy Sane danced through the Basel defence and set up Bernardo Silva whose low cross was tapped in by the Brazilian forward for his first goal since November.

Basel, backed by an impressively vocal travelling support, were clearly determined to restore pride.

They did so by drawing level nine minutes later when Mohamed Elyounoussi buried the ball in the bottom corner from just inside the area.

Runaway Premier League leaders City were content to play their trademark possession football but Basel’s endeavours were rewarded in the 72nd minute.

An excellent footwork work from Elyounoussi saw Michael Lang blast past Claudio Bravo at the near post to give the visitors the lead.

City’s last home defeat came in December, 2016 against Chelsea.

Source: today.ng

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