Dominant City resist hitting self-destruct with late goal to calm nerves

CITY have been here so many times in the Champions League, in total control before self-destructing.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The start of their last-16 clash with FC Copenhagen threatened to set records for the most time a team has spent without the ball, with the hosts frantically and unsuccessfully chasing their opponents all over the pitch as Pep Guardiola's side ran rings around them.

They completed just 23 passes in the opening 20 minutes - just over one a minute - and went a goal down when Kevin De Bruyne effortlessly and clinically swept home a ball played through to him by Phil Foden.

That had an effect on the crowd too, who had set out to have an influence on the game. The whistles at the start of the game were deafening, yet the Blues kept the ball so well that it was never going to be sustainable - imagine trying to boo for 24 minutes in half an hour.

It was the most dominant start of the season, and arguably not a coincidence with Jack Grealish back in the starting XI.

Grealish has been benched for almost a month but was praised for his efforts at the end of the Everton game and the team on paper looked reassuringly strong.

The former Villa man had started well, only to go down worryingly without being seemingly challenged and Jeremy Doku being summoned.

City's position of strength took a hit, and as they have come to learn from painful experience in this competition you can play as well as you like but if you don't make the most of your dominance you are always vulnerable.

So it proved just after 30 minutes when Ederson carelessly slapped a ball straight to Mohamed Elyounoussi on the edge of the box and he squared for Magnus Mattson on his debut to bend in a terrific effort.