Manchester City’s losing streak has finally come to an end, albeit narrowly. However, they remain a team teetering on the brink, capable of sinking at any moment. Leading 3-0 after 75 minutes, a late collapse allowed Feyenoord to claw back, thanks to goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko, securing a hard-fought draw. After five consecutive defeats, a comfortable victory seemed imminent, which would have lifted the spirits of Pep Guardiola and his squad ahead of their next challenge: a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday. But given City’s shaky finish against Feyenoord, the prospect of facing Arne Slot’s leaders is far from appealing.
Feyenoord, who arrived as the Eredivisie’s fourth-placed team, appeared to be out of the game after Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gündogan scored in the second half. Guardiola had abandoned the narrow 4-3-3 formation that failed against Tottenham, opting for a 4-2-3-1. Despite this, gaps remained in the first 45 minutes, and City were wasteful. The bigger issue, however, is the absence of Rodri, whose calm and control are sorely missed. Hadj Moussa and Giménez’s goals were partly due to Josko Gvardiol’s loss of composure, while Ederson’s rush to clear contributed to Feyenoord’s equalizer.
To face Feyenoord, Guardiola made changes, dropping Kyle Walker and Savinho and bringing in Matheus Nunes and Jack Grealish. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, known for their winning mentality, were seen joking before the match. Foden’s cross was turned back by Manuel Akanji, and Haaland’s header was saved by Timon Wellenreuther. Wellenreuther’s misdirected pass led to Grealish’s volley, which Foden’s back deflected away. City’s sluggishness was evident, with Ilkay Gündogan being dispossessed, and Josko Gvardiol’s intervention was needed to stop Feyenoord.
Guardiola’s frustration grew as Aké fouled Julián Carranza, and Igor Paixão’s run ended with a high shot. City’s lack of cutting edge was apparent, and their midfield gaps allowed Feyenoord to advance. Guardiola directed his anger at Bernardo Silva for not covering his flank. City’s press malfunctioned, and Feyenoord exploited this, with Paixão hitting the ball straight into Ederson’s hands. City’s defense looked vulnerable, while their attack lacked precision.
A penalty was awarded after Quinten Timber fouled Haaland, and Haaland scored, bringing relief to City fans. Could City build on this and dominate the second half? The answer was yes. Gvardiol passed to Haaland, who turned into traffic. Nunes shot, and a corner was won. Gündogan’s volley off David Hancko’s deflection made it 2-0. City then scored a third, with Haaland sliding home. Guardiola celebrated, and City looked more confident. However, Gvardiol’s mistakes set up Feyenoord’s comeback, leading to City’s collapse.
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