Ilkay Gundogan Happy With Borussia Monchengladbach Draw

Following the match, Kevin De Bruyne told BBC Sport that the most important thing is the team held of Gladbach late.

“Even before they scored I think they just wanted to defend”.

By the end at Borussia Park, De Bruyne spent some time at right-back while Sagna moved into central midfield.

Manchester City players celebrate a goal in the Champions League last 16 after securing a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach on 23 November 2016.

“We have the chance of going into the (January) winter break in the Europa League”. It was no Barcelona.

Guardiola’s City arrive third in the Premier League table and fresh from Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, when Yaya Toure marked his shock return, after three months on the sidelines with both goals. City have flattered to deceive before.

Guardiola’s current preoccupation must be with the way City have lost their verve. It has, however, been a more troublesome journey than he might have anticipated, especially away from the Etihad.

Abroad, it has been different. Celtic, Guardiola could choose to rest some players against the Scottish Champs.

It was De Bruyne who raised their play. Shortly after the hour mark Fernandinho also received a second caution, although contact looked minimal.

Borussia have endured a hard start to the season and are 14th in the Bundesliga, while they have won just one from four in a Champions League group that also includes Barcelona and Celtic. This was really hard work from the first minute to the last.

Manchester City probable lineup (4-1-4-1): Bravo – Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov – Fernandinho – Sterling, Gundogan, Silva, Bruyne – Aguero. It may be a fleeting loss of form or it may be something deeper.

With the teams back on level terms with regards to personnel, Gladbach were boosted as Raffael wriggled away from his opponent and let one fly just wide of the post.

Not for the first time this season, City boss Pep Guardiola reverted to a 3-2-4-1 formation created to take control of central areas, but it did not have the desired effect initially as Gladbach – without a win in the Bundesliga since September – took a deserved 23rd-minute lead through Raffael.

The Monchengladbach captain squared the ball for Raffael. But for Bravo, Monchenglabach would have gone two up.

Guardiola said Kompany is attending a Spanish hospital for treatment, adding: “He’s sad but he is in the best hands”.

It proved vital because City managed to haul themselves level on the stroke of half time thanks to Silva’s close range finish following good approach work from Sterling and De Bruyne, who had both chose to pull their fingers out.