Match Report: City 1 -1 Roma

The first half started off very bright for City as a familiar face, Maicon, pulling Aguero to the ground and leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty for the home side. But after that there was not much in the way of bright moments for the men in sky blue. The defense looked stretched for a majority of the first as Roma looked to quickly counter the City attacks. Roma were awarded for their efforts midway through the match when the savvy veteran, Totti, made a run behind the City back line, and was playing in by Radja Nainggolan, beating Joe Hart and bringing the teams level.

In the second half it was Pellegrini’s substitutions that made the biggest impact with the likes of James Milner and Frank Lampard coming into the game. Milner’s tireless work ethic in the attacking and defensive part of the game that held Roma, to an extent, at bay for a good portion of the second half. Lampard’s experience was a necessity with the magnitude of this early Champions League match and minutes after he made his way onto the pitch he combined nicely with Fernandinho, but the Brazilian was unable to get a shot on goal. As the game wound down City looked desperate to get the goal that would put them ahead but it just was meant to be. A chance by Silva right before the 90^th minute was the best City had, but the Spaniard was unable to direct the ball into the back of the net. It is a game that feels some what like a loss, granted it’s not the worst result given Roma have Bayern next and we have CSKA Moscow, but maximum points at home are of the utmost importance in a competition like Champions League.

A talking point following this match, and the early goings this season, has been the play of, or lack there of, Yaya Toure. Usually you can chalk his lethargic play (mostly in the defensive half) to Yaya being Yaya, but so far this season it has been not be a formula for success for City. Missing passes, not closing down attacking player, it’s all not clicking for the big Ivorian yet this season. How you feeling about Yaya, Blues? I know some have already expressed their opinion but; Big deal? Give it time? Or no big deal?