Manchester Metropolis blew a 3-0 lead to attract 3-3 in opposition to Feyenoord in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday and prolong their winless run to 6 video games.
The English champions did snap a five-game dropping streak however did little to spice up confidence forward of Sunday’s journey to Premier League leaders Liverpool by conceding 3 times within the remaining quarter-hour.
Pep Guardiola admitted his star-studded squad have been “fragile” and missing in confidence after the worst run of his managerial profession.
Two objectives from Erling Haaland, both facet of Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected effort, regarded set to revive some order for Metropolis.
However the defensive frailties which were the basis trigger for a staggering collapse in current weeks was uncovered within the closing levels.
Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko hit again to salvage a significant level for the Dutch giants.
A draw leaves Metropolis with loads of work to do to succeed in the knockout levels with journeys to Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain to return of their subsequent two Champions League video games.
Solely the highest eight progress on to the final 16 with a spot within the high 24 of the 36-team desk sufficient to succeed in the playoff spherical.
Metropolis drop to fifteenth on eight factors from 5 matches, only one level forward of Feyenoord in twentieth.
– Medical Haaland –
Guardiola reacted to a primary house defeat for 2 years in a 4-0 humbling by Tottenham on Saturday by making three modifications.
Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes and Nathan Ake got here into the beginning line-up nevertheless it nonetheless took Metropolis time to seek out their rhythm.
Nerves round a removed from full Etihad Stadium have been frayed when Igor Paixao wasted an enormous probability to provide the Dutch giants the lead.
As a substitute, Metropolis obtained the break they wanted when Haaland was fouled contained in the field from a nook.
The Norwegian missed from the penalty spot in Metropolis’s 4-1 thrashing by Sporting Lisbon final day trip within the Champions League.
This time Haaland was scientific and smashed the ball into the web in relieving his frustrations of current weeks.
Gundogan’s volley from the sting of the field that deflected in off Hancko gave Metropolis respiratory house early within the second half.
Haaland then slid in to fulfill Nunes’ cross for his forty sixth Champions League aim in 44 appearances within the competitors to seemingly put Metropolis on straightforward avenue.
However there was a sting within the tail for the house facet after Josko Gvardiol’s slack backpass allowed Moussa in to spherical Ederson and hearth in from a slim angle.
Guardiola held his head in his fingers in response and worse was to return when Ederson didn’t take care of Jordan Lotomba’s near-post effort and the ball fell kindly for Gimenez to make it 3-2.
Extra kamikaze defending gifted Feyenoord an equaliser as Rico Lewis performed Paixao onside. He eased across the onrushing Ederson and crossed for Hancko to move into an unguarded internet.
Metropolis have now conceded two or extra objectives in six consecutive video games for the primary time since 1963.
There was nonetheless time for extra drama as Grealish’s shot got here again off the crossbar in Metropolis’s seek for a late winner.
As a substitute they needed to accept some extent that may really feel simply as damaging because the earlier 5 defeats for a facet so used to profitable.
kca/bsp
