Leroy Sane bagged a brace as Manchester City beat Hoffenheim 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to ensure they made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League as Group F winners.
As they had done in three of their previous five group games in this season’s competition, City fell behind.
Aymeric Laporte was punished for clumsily pushing over Benjamin Hubner as he prepared to shoot when Nico Schulz’s scuffed effort dropped into his path. Kramaric – who had earlier been denied by a brilliant Ederson save – stroked the spot kick down the middle.
Gabriel Jesus headed against a post from five yards out following a corner, before Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick was diverted on to the crossbar by Joelinton’s header as City pushed for a response.
An equaliser finally arrived from another dead-ball situation as Sane’s attempt from a direct free kick flew into the net from 30 yards out.
City continued to threaten from set-pieces after the resumption and Laporte should have atoned for giving away the earlier penalty, but goalkeeper Oliver Baumann denied both his initial header and then also a follow-up attempt from point-blank range.
Guardiola’s men were guilty of an even worse miss when Hoffenheim left no one back. Raheem Sterling, Sane and Bernardo Silva led a three-man breakaway, but failed to apply the finishing touch, Baumann denying the latter.
Yet they did find the net via a counter-attacking move just after the hour mark, Sane collecting a return pass from Sterling to poke home a left-footed finish, despite appearing to take one touch too many as Baumann closed him down.
Sterling should have added a third late on, but missed the target when found by Phil Foden’s cross.
What does it mean? City finish top, but need to ditch their habit of conceding first
The reigning Premier League champions got the job done, but only after falling behind yet again, as they had done on German soil in the return fixture and in each of their two meetings with fellow qualifiers Lyon. That is a habit they need to kick if they are to make it to the latter stages of the competition this season.
Sane hitting his stride
He had only scored once before October 20, but Germany international Sane has now found the net nine times since that date for club and country. With Sergio Aguero out injured and Jesus misfiring, the forward’s hot streak has been a welcome boost for Guardiola.
A night to forget for Laporte
The reason City went a goal down was due to Laporte’s foolish decision to bundle over Hubner in the first half. The City defender then missed two great chances to put his team ahead in the second half, but failed to beat Baumann from close range on both occasions.
What’s next?
City have the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table when they host Everton in an early kick-off on Saturday. Hoffenheim, who are seventh in the Bundesliga, host Borussia Monchengladbach.
