With Haaland and Guardiola, Manchester City can never be counted out in the Champions League

MANCHESTER, England -- Pep Guardiola seemed somewhat annoyed connected Wednesday erstwhile helium said Manchester City are "apparently" not 1 of the favorites for this season's UEFA Champions League. It was an reply that hinted helium suspects his squad has already been written off.

Perhaps it volition instrumentality much than a 2-0 triumph implicit 10-man Napoli -- who had Giovanni Di Lorenzo sent disconnected successful the archetypal fractional -- to interest the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid. But if you're going to conquer Europe, beating the champions of Italy successful your archetypal crippled of the league signifier isn't a atrocious spot to start.

"I'm really, truly pleased," Guardiola said aft the match. "When it was 11 against 10 we made a truly bully show against a squad that has the DNA of the Italian teams, defending precise well. How assertive they are, however beardown their mentality is.

"I'm truly pleased due to the fact that aft 10 against 11 you tin beryllium much anxious and successful a hurry but it was wholly the opposite. Every walk was with volition and each infinitesimal was with intention. Antonio's teams are ever really, truly pugnacious to beat."

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City looked destined to triumph aft conscionable 21 minutes erstwhile Di Lorenzo was dismissed for a foul connected Erling Haaland. German referee Felix Zwayer initially waved distant the City appeals, but Haaland was definite helium had been denied a wide goal-scoring opportunity. Haaland jumped up instantly and could beryllium seen mouthing "red card" successful the referee's direction.

Zwayer was sent to the show by VAR Christian Dingert, and aft a mates of replays, helium yet decided helium agreed with the Norwegian striker. From that constituent on, Napoli were up against it.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte did his champion to frustrate City. He adjacent chopped abbreviated Kevin De Bruyne's Etihad Stadium comeback, sacrificing the Belgian midfielder for defender Mathías Olivera. That and a drawstring of saves from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic helped support Guardiola's squad astatine bay until aft halftime, erstwhile a wonderfully crafted determination involving Rodri and Phil Foden broke the deadlock. Foden's delicate spot implicit Napoli's defence was delicious and got the decorativeness it deserved from Haaland. City's No. 9 caught the formation of the shot p...