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Mahrez penalty saved as Manchester City held by Borussia Dortmund

25-Oct-2022 21:04:04 | The Guardian

Of course Manchester City came to win. It’s just that, if they had really needed to, you sensed they would probably have found a way. A draw here suited both teams fine, with City already qualified for the last 16 and Borussia Dortmund needing just a point. And for all the brief flurries of drama, including a missed penalty in the second half by Riyad Mahrez, this was ultimately a match of narrowed ambitions and thwarted plans: a learning experience rather than a red-hot contest.

So what did Pep Guardiola learn? Probably a lot that he already knew. That City at anything less than their usual feverish intensity remain vulnerable in transition. That goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is a fine and reliable deputy to Ederson. That Julian Álvarez can be a viable Plan B when Erling Haaland is injured or rested.