Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City have drawn their past two Premier League games despite opening the scoring in both (2-2 v Arsenal, 1-1 v Newcastle).
The previous time they failed to win three consecutive league games despite scoring first in each was in December and January in 2003-04.
Norway striker Erling Haaland is set to sign a new contract with Manchester City, but the 24-year-old wants a £100m release clause added into his deal. (Teamtalk), external
Barcelona are making the signing of Haaland their priority in the 2025 summer transfer window. (SPORT - in Spanish), external
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Key Match Incidents panel unanimously supported the decision of referee Jarred Gillett to award Newcastle a penalty against Manchester City.
City goalkeeper Ederson was judged to have made contact with Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon in the 56th minute.
Gordon scored from the spot to earn the Magpies a point in a 1-1 draw at St James' Park on Saturday.
The KMI panel, made up of five members, includes three ex-players and managers.
Interim England boss Lee Carsley has announced his squad for this month's Nations League games with Greece and Finland.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke is the headline inclusion, returning to international contention for the first time in seven years.
The 27-year-old has three goals in six appearances for Spurs since moving from Bournemouth in the summer.
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesPeople are beginning to waver about the champions and not just because of the long-term loss of Rodri and the obvious growing fragility of Kevin de Bruyne’s body.
Another seed of doubt about City has appeared to blossom after they faced a rigid deep defence last week. Pep Guardiola’s men were strangely short of ideas and in turn good chances even with an extra man. Granted Arsenal defended well, but this week against a full complement of Leicester defenders sitting just as deep, Arsenal continued to develop chance after chance from a variety of different situations.
It looks like Pep has a plan A, and plan B is simply to do plan A better. Arteta on the other hand does all the things that City do but is happy to add something less puritanical on top. Set piece domination in the old English POMO (Position of Maximum Opportunity) style, is the antithesis of the original Ajax/Cruyff/Barcelona/Pep way, but Mikel doesn’t care.
Whisper it, but when these power plays are used in tandem with quality football maybe Sam Allardyce, Sean Dyche, Graham Taylor, Tony Pulis and even Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang had the nugget of a good idea.
Don’t expect anyone in the modern game to own up to this however, in English football’s poshest modern circles, it would be social suicide.
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Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are in the running to sign Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen next summer, with the Bundesliga club wanting €150m (£125m) for the 21-year-old. (Bild - in German), external
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City fans have been having their say on victory against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday:
Ryan: Pedestrian pace for City as thought they might put a few more past them since Celtic got five. Rodri is a huge miss for this City team - he's the man who makes them tick.
Marvin: You have to afford yourselves a smile at critics of Phil Foden. This is one of the leading players in the Premier League and, after missing pre-season and the start of the season, it's great for City fans to see him back to his best again. It was only a matter of time.
Leanne: Good win for Manchester City and was lovely to see Vladimir Weiss getting a good reception from both sets of supporters.
JD: Celtic beat these 5-1 so I expected City to win 10-0. They are struggling without Rodri. Just put Stones there - that’ll fill the gap.
Jet: Easy win for City as expected. But as for Slovan Bratislava....when you lose 5-1 like they did in the opening game to who they lostCeltic, it shows how poor they are.
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Sport commentator Conor McNamara described an "overall satisfactory evening" for Manchester City as they "cruised" past Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
"To go away from home in the Champions League, to any standard of club, and win by four goals is always good," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast. "They cruised it.
"Not that City are in a slump, but coming into this game they had drawn to Inter Milan and again in their past two Premier League games, as well as losing lost Rodri. So overall, it is a very satisfactory evening for the City boss.
"They have one more game before most of the squad disperse around the world to play for their countries. I am sure Pep Guardiola will be concerned about that and will be really hoping for fit and healthy returns."
Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 20, and Atalanta's 25-year-old Brazil midfielder Ederson are high on Manchester City's list should they try to replace injured Rodri in January. (Caught Offside), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports, on whether he was happy with the win: "We had to do a job. We did it. This group of players is fantastic, we play a good game, a lot of chances so the first three points of the competition.
"We said we need one more goal, 3-0 was almost over because they defend with more courage to play but after 2-0 and chances we had, we were patient and we attacked really well. Sometimes we have to attack more quicker but yeah good result."
On whether goal difference came into his head because of the new format: "When I'm thinking about that maybe I’m conservative, maybe winning games will be enough. We have three tough, tough games away. Today, first victory, a little bit higher in the table than we were."
On Ilkay Gundogan: "We know he can do it. Strong mentality. The game in Newcastle was not really good, maybe one of the worst I ever seen with him in the last eight or nine years but this happens. This is why he has to play.
"His position, holding midfielder, he is so intelligent, he played a fantastic game today."
On Phil Foden: " Yeah he still is not his best, make a fantastic goal, pass the ball to the post no shoot he had more chances. Step by step he's coming back."
On James McAtee: "All of us are so happy for him, he's adorable and all the guys love him. There are a lot of games, everybody will make a contribution. He moved really well in small spaces, he make a fantastic goal, have another chance. For him it will be a good boost. We want to make him feel like ‘you are part of that group, you are able to play’. Hopefully today can help him in that."
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Phil Foden, speaking to TNT Sports after scoring in the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava:
"I don't think it was easy. It was tough to break them down and we have to give them respect. The atmosphere was unbelievable. We did the job.
"I had more chances to score and a few of the other lads did too. Delighted with 4-0 but we could've had a few more.
"Nice to be back out there and score. Feeling OK now. Slow start to the season after the Euros but I'm slowly getting there."
On playing in the Champions League having come through Man City's academy: "It is a dream come true. We've worked hard for it. Macca's [James McAtee] had a few loans and is doing really well. He's a talented boy so we're going to need him this season with all the games so he needs to be ready.
"After the draw last time out we had to get the win, our aim is to finish in the top half so we're on the right track now."
James McAtee, speaking after scoring his first Champions League goal: "Buzzing to score, could've had another five minutes after but I'm pleased to get one. It's what every kid dreams of, a dream come true.
"It was a tough year last year for me, so it's good to be back and playing under the best manager in the world in my opinion."
Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesPhil Foden scored 27 goals in all competitions last season
This was as comfortable a win as Manchester City could have hoped for as they brushed aside a Slovan Bratislava team making their first appearance at this stage of the Champions League.
In fact, everything Pep Guardiola could have hoped to have happened in the match did as Erling Haaland continued his scoring streak, while there were first goals of the season for Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, plus a first-ever City goal for James McAtee.
Foden has yet to get in his stride so far this term and while he will face tougher tests, a goal and an assist on only his second start of the campaign will do his confidence the world of good as he looks to recapture the form that saw him named PFA Player of the Year for last season.
With Rodri out for the rest of the campaign, Gundogan showed he is ready to step up and play more of part this term. As well as scoring his first goal since returning to City from Barcelona, he also hit the woodwork and also went close late on.
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
What did you make of the performance, City fans?
Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are nine Champions League fixtures on Tuesday:
Red Bull Salzburg v Brest - 17:45
Stuttgart v Sparta Prague - 17:45
Arsenal v Paris St-Germain - 20:00 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)
Barcelona v Young Boys - 20:00
Bayer Leverkusen v AC Milan - 20:00
Borussia Dortmund v Celtic - 20:00
Inter Milan v Red Star Belgrade - 20:00
PSV Eindhoven v Sporting - 20:00
Slovan Bratislava v Manchester City - 20:00
All kick-off times BST
Follow all the action and reaction here
Freddie Pye
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThings could get slightly worse for Manchester City before they get better.
Don’t panic - I don’t mean a Manchester United-style deterioration or anything of such magnitude. There just may be a slight drop-off in playing style or overall match control as Pep Guardiola comes to terms with life without Rodri.
In case you have been living under a rock, Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL and meniscus injury that required surgery in Spain.
Last weekend gave Manchester City fans their first look at how things could shape up without the midfield metronome who has been so integral to every piece of success since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Amid talk of Rico Lewis operating next to Mateo Kovacic, John Stones inverting from right-back, Matheus Nunes being handed greater opportunities in the midfield, or even Ilkay Gundogan holding down the solo defensive role himself, Guardiola presented neither at the weekend.
The 1-1 draw at Newcastle saw Kovacic accompanied by Manuel Akanji when in possession of the ball, enabling Lewis to venture forward and support Gundogan in the attacking midfield role. Simultaneously, Josko Gvardiol would also drive forward and as a direct result, source a sumptuous goal through combination play with Jack Grealish on the left.
The tactics did not stop there = with Rico Lewis using his energy to support City’s defence when Newcastle attacked, and Bernardo Silva’s stamina becoming increasingly important in the second half.
Unfortunately, the added numbers in midfield could mean teams adopt the Arsenal approach of sitting deep behind the ball more often, and forcing City into their side-to-side and crossing methods. A patience game.
However, at a time when Kevin de Bruyne remains sidelined, creativity and perhaps that one moment of brilliance is likely to be put on hold until at least after the October international break.
Thankfully for Guardiola - the most capable mind in football when it comes to dealing with tactical challenges - City have a favourable run of games that gives the boss almost two months to source his best solution before Premier League matches against the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool arrive.
Buckle up the seatbelt.
Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external
Do you think Manchester City regret selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea?
Discussing the Blues forward on the BBC Radio 5 Live Monday Night Club, New York Times journalist Rory Smith said: "It does seem really weird that they sold someone who might be the best player in the Premier League for £40m. That is not even a lot of money in modern football.
"It is strange that Pep Guardiola thought he was not going to play at City, but maybe that is because he was not willing to centre the team around him like Enzo Maresca is.
"City probably should be thinking they have made a mistake!"
Kevin de Bruyne's latest injury will have no bearing on contract negotiations between the 33-year-old midfielder and Manchester City. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game away to Slovan Bratislava (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola said he hopes to have Kevin de Bruyne back after the October international break.
He has "no doubt" Phil Foden will return to form: "I can have some doubts in many things but Phil will be back. Three minutes in at St James' Park I saw something I liked - something I didn't see against Watford. He has been not training, had niggles but now he's smiling a little bit and in his rhythm. He will be back."
What have you learned from these types of games in your career?: "That nothing is for granted. Even the media is going to say how beautiful we are - always we have to do it. Nothing comes from that. Always I have an incredible, incredible opinion of my opponents, my colleagues."
He is grateful about his journey so far: "If I have to retire right now, I'm more than satisfied. I'm so happy still doing my job. I'm more than grateful and cannot ask for anything else."
Despite his success, he still sometimes doubts himself: "I know how this business is and I am an insecure person so I have doubts. Sometimes I overthink and I know it still is not done. Tomorrow is an opportunity to make a step and make the team play better."
On the challenge posed by Slovan Bratislava: "It's a team that plays with some courage. I saw the game against Glasgow and in certain moments they are not scared to play. They link really well with the strikers. I have huge respect for all the teams especially when we play away. I will try to analyse what they do, the patterns they do, and play our game."
He added: "In England, we don't have the rights to see the Slovakian League. I have huge, huge respect for them and we're going to try and analyse what they do, the patterns they do, and try to impose our game."
However, he recognises City are heavy favourites: "We accept it. It is not a big deal. We start 0-0 the same, 11 against 11 and in the same conditions. We have to prove we are better. The rest I am not concerned much with to be honest."
