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Manchester City vs. Steaua Bucharest: Score, Reaction to Champions League, Leg 2
- Updated: August 24, 2016
Manchester City booked their place in the UEFA Champions League group stage after beating Steaua Bucharest 1-0 in the second leg of their qualification playoff at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Fabian Delph got the goal to confirm a 6-0 aggregate win on a night when manager Pep Guardiola rested several key players, as City had scored five during the first leg in Romania.
Guardiola handed starts to outcast goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder Yaya Toure, while Kelechi Iheanacho came in for Sergio Aguero up top, per the club’s official site:
TEAM NEWS | Here’s how City line-up tonight! #cityvsteaua #mcfc pic.twitter.com/tcR0gaFnNl
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 24, 2016
Hart was also handed the captain’s armband in what could be his club farewell, with BBC Sport’s David Ornstein reporting that the Citizens still expect the England No. 1 to move during the remainder of the transfer window.
The tournament’s social media account confirmed the starting XI for the visitors:
Steaua: Cojocaru, Mitrea, Tamaş, Momčilović, Popescu, Hamroun, Muniru Sulley, Aganović, Enache, Bourceanu, Tudorie. #UCL
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 24, 2016
There were some notable omissions from the away side’s lineup, with attackers Nicolae Stanciu and Adrian Popa on the bench. It was a clear show that Bucharest had given up the tie following the demolition in the first leg.
Naturally, a lot of focus was on Hart, and City supporters were quick to show their appreciation for the stopper who seems destined for an exit, per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News:
Hart has been made captain for the night – either adds up to an #MCFC farewell or a remarkable reconciliation! Big reception from City fans
— Stuart Brennan (@StuBrennanMEN) August 24, 2016
Hart’s City career may be about to end, but one player whose tenure with the Citizens is just beginning is 19-year-old full-back Pablo Maffeo. The Spaniard was filling in for Pablo Zabaleta and the injured Bacary Sagna and looked composed early on.
Yet it was another City defender, Aleksandar Kolarov, who created the first chance. He teed up Iheanacho, who rifled in a fierce shot that was well-saved.
One of City’s other forgotten men, Toure, was probing well in the final third. He also went close after whipping in a trademark free-kick that went narrowly wide.
Considering the …
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