This week the Champions League returned to our screens and
provided the sort of excitement we would expect from the biggest competition in
club football.
Again we saw the usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano
Ronaldo explode into action on the biggest stage, meanwhile only two of the
four English teams managed maximum points while current holders Chelsea managed
a point against Juventus.
Perhaps the biggest game of week one took place in Madrid as
Real welcomed money bags Manchester City in what was being described as the
game of two giants…..but was it?
Madrid are chasing their 10th Champions League
trophy while City are chasing their first, while taking part in just their
second Champions League adventure under mega rich owner Sheik Mansour. Agreed
both sides lined up with some of the best footballers in the world going toe to
toe, however the end result went someway to showing that City may still not be
ready to lift the trophy, and cannot yet be labelled as a European giant.
In time Mancini will develop the blue half of Manchester
into genuine Champions League contenders, however he will have to ensure his
side provide much sterner performances when making the journeys to the likes of
Madrid.
City led the game 2-1 in the 86th minute only for
their defensive frailties to show again as firstly Benzema curled Mourinho’s
men level before that man Ronaldo unleashed a shot that somehow evaded the
normally solid Vincent Kompany before swerving underneath a stranded Joe Hart
who in fairness had performed sensationally to keep City in the game.
Mancini will be well aware that City must become more solid
in defending if they are to make it out of what is a very tough group. With
games against Dortmund and Ajax to come, Mancini will have to ensure his side
gain six points, otherwise it could be Europa League football post-Christmas.
If City do make it from group D it would be hard to see them
finding themselves getting past further tests like Barcelona, Real Madrid or
Bayern Munich in the latter stages. Of course City fans believe that now is
their time, unfortunately for them and Mancini the club remains yet to be considered
a giant of Europe and will continue that way for several years to come.
Let me know what you think. Can Manchester City win the
Champions League this season?
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