Manchester City vs Celtic Champions League 2016-17 Full Match Sports

Manchester City vs Celtic Champions League 2016-17 Full Match Sports HD, Review And Highlights

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Life goes on for Manchester City after the weekend disappointment against Chelsea. City SHOULD have won that game, yet they ended up at the mercy of a spectacular team that is ready to win the Premier League.

Sometimes, the best thing after a tough loss it a game shortly after to help forget that experience. City have that on Tuesday night at Etihad Stadium, when they welcome Celtic FC for the last match of the UEFA Champions League group stage. On paper, this game doesn't matter. But it really does.

The points don't matter. Three points, one point, no points, it doesn't matter. It doesn't affect City's position in Group C (they're already second) and Celtic's European destiny is set (they won't play in the Europa League). What matters about this game is one thing, and one thing only: confidence. Losing to Chelsea despite a great performance hurts the players and Pep Guardiola, and they need a great performance with a victory against Celtic to maintain the trust that Pep Ball can work.

Can City do it?

TEAM NEWS
Man City: Vincent Kompany is injured, Yaya Touré is not in the squad, Fernandinho is suspended. These are the only problems Pep Guardiola has to deal with on Wednesday. Sergio Agüero will probably play his last match in the year 2016, either as a starter or as a substitute. Kun will be missed, but he was too stupid against Chelsea and a month out may help him.

Guardiola made it clear in his press conference that he will rotate the squad, and even Willy Caballero is expected to start. Youngsters Pablo Maffeo, Tosin Adarabioyo and Angeliño Tasende might get some valuable playing time, and along with Kelechi Iheanacho, they could give us a glimpse into the future. That's fun.

Celtic: Former City player Scott Sinclair misses out through injury, and that's all the problems for Brendan Rodgers. City loanee Patrick Roberts is expected to start on Tuesday night, and he may impress Guardiola and the Etihad crowd. Other than that, Celtic have shown very good things in the group stage, especially at home, and the way they played in the 3-3 draw against City was proof of how good they are in their best day. They need Celtic Park to be good, though, and they won't be at Celtic Park for this one.


Manchester City and Celtic played out a low-key draw as their Champions League group phase concluded at Etihad Stadium.

This was a dead rubber with City already assured of second place in Group C and Celtic eliminated with no chance of Europa League football.

Celtic started in impressive fashion and on-loan winger Patrick Roberts gave them a fourth-minute lead against his parent club with a crisp finish - an advantage that lasted four minutes before Kelechi Iheanacho drove an angled drive high past Craig Gordon.

And Celtic almost cashed in but substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Gary Mackay-Steven wasted late opportunities.

City boss Pep Guardiola made nine changes from the team that lost at home to Chelsea on Saturday, including teenagers Pablo Maffeo and Tosin Adarabioyo.

Both Guardiola and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers seemed satisfied at the final whistle, with the only dampener on the night being when scuffles broke out between a small number of rival supporters in the second half.


How far can Manchester City go?

No judgements can be made from this game, played out with an unfamiliar team with nothing competitive at stake - but City have shown both sides of their personality in this group stage.

If they reproduce the blistering form they demonstrated in the second half of their 3-1 win against Barcelona at Etihad Stadium, they have the style and personnel to trouble any team left in the competition.

If they show the defensive frailty that saw them lose 4-0 in Barcelona - and which they have shown in the Premier League - then they are just as likely to sabotage their chances.

Finishing second in the group usually makes life tougher and they can still land stiff opposition in the likes of Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Monaco, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus or Sevilla.

Tough - but nothing to deter City if they can produce their best.


Celtic making progress

Rodgers knew it would be a tough task to progress from a group containing Barcelona and Manchester City. And it has proved difficult.

But Celtic's display here was confident and showed signs that they have learned lessons from the experience - although it must be placed in the context of a game played against an unfamiliar City team.

Celtic kept City at arm's length for much of the game and posed a threat, which is exactly what Rodgers will have wanted. They were well-organised and fiercely industrious.

If there was a fault it was that they did not make the most of their chances, with Moussa Dembele wasteful in the first half and both Griffiths and Mackay-Steven having opportunities late on.

The former Liverpool boss is in a building process at Celtic and while domestic domination looks certain to continue, Rodgers can at least take some solace that they looked to have moved forward in this European campaign.


City still off colour

It's another home draw for Manchester City as they struggle to rediscover the air of invincibility they carried in the early games following Guardiola's arrival.

This was a night of experimentation for the Catalan but his animated behaviour on the touchline made it obvious how much he wanted victory.

It did not materialise and City have now won only four of their past 13 matches. This comes after winning their first 10 competitive fixtures under Guardiola before a 3-3 draw at Celtic in the Champions League.

He will hope this magic touch can return soon with the Premier League entering a crucial stage and further Champions League battles ahead.


Man of the match - Patrick Roberts (Celtic)

'It was a pleasure to play against Celtic'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola:

"I am so happy. We played really good against a good team.

"The experienced players like Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando and Ilkay Gundogan helped the young players a lot.

"It was a good experience for them. They deserved to play because they have trained well. Their behaviour is always perfect so I am so happy to give them the opportunity to play in the Champions League.

"The game was good for the spectators, both teams tried to attack. It was fun. It was a pleasure to play against Celtic."