Postpublished at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018

20:43 GMT 12 December 2018

Man City 0-1 Hoffenheim

City have got plenty of injury problems at the moment and they could do without another - Gabriel Jesus needs treatment after he's caught on the ankle. Needs a goal, the Brazilian. He looks short of confidence to me.

Image source, Reuters

Valencia are having chances every time they go forwards, Daniel Parejo is the latest man to go close. He chops inside Marouane Fellaini's challenge but Fred makes a fine sliding block to cut out his shot...

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live sport extra

City just need to get the ball in the box. If they do they will get chances. Every time they put the ball in the box, they go close. They have hit the post and the crossbar.

It's incredible.

You don't associate City with dominating at set-plays but that's their best route to goal right now. Another fine ball in from the left is tonked against the bar. Was it Nicolas Otamendi or Joelinton who got the last touch? Not sure - it stayed out though!

Image source, AFP

How has he missed that?!

Paul Pogba has just missed a chance that you, I, or any one of the Conservative MPs voting right now would have scored!

Incredible. Marouane Fellaini heads a corner down, Pogba is marginally onside and about two yards out, he makes a poor connection off his studs and it rolls into the side-netting and wide.

A sheepish look to the heavens is about right.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

It can be partly be put down to the enthusiasm and effectiveness of the Hoffenheim press, but City are not building from the back with the same effortless ease that we are used to seeing from Pep Guardiola's side.

Fernandinho's absence is probably something to do with it - he had missed only 41 of the 1890 minutes City had played in the Premier League and Champions League this season before tonight.

Ilkay Gundogan is deputising for the Brazilian in that pivotal role in front of the City defence, but it is not his natural position so it is understandable if he is taking a bit of time to find his feet.

So nearly 2-0 again! From a corner goalscorer Carlos Soler gets a flick at the near post, Sergio Romero claws it out and when Geoffrey Kondogbia helps it back across Marouane Fellaini is as strong as an ox to shield it out.

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

The Manchester City fans are silent. They are not used to this.

They have seen a lot of good football but the problem is it has come from Hoffenheim.

Young Boys have taken the lead against Juventus - with a Guillaume Hoarau penalty. Wojciech Szczesny guessed the right way but could not keep it out.

Juve are two points above United as things stand.

Michy Batshuayi misses a sitter! Dear oh dear that's a great chance to make it 2-0. An absolutely stupendous cross on the run from Cristiano Piccini, the sort of full-back delivery strikers dream of.

But the on-loan Chelsea man closes his eyes and balloons it over, off his shoulder if anything...

Image source, Reuters

Eric Bailly is back in the team and he's in the book - he barely touched the keeper as he went up for a header! Softer than a soft thing.

There's been a big goal in Kiev's Olympic Stadium. Junior Moraes has put Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 up against Lyon. That would take them into the Champions League last 16 and drop Lyon down to the Europa League.

It would also mean Manchester City win Group F.

Image source, Reuters

There is United's first real chance of the night. Valencia old boy Juan Mata reads a badly-directed header in the Valencia defence and cracks off a left-footed stinger, it's well blocked by Mouctar Diakhaby, who wears it in the guts.

Or was it handball? Replays suggest that was ball to hand - nothing given though...

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Gabriel Jesus didn't even jump for that first header. The keeper was nowhere near it. That was nothing more than bad luck.

Image source, Reuters

25 minutes in and Manchester United haven't had a shot yet.

Image source, AFP

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

The travelling Hoffenheim fans made plenty of noise (and held up lots of traffic) on their march out of the city centre to the Etihad Stadium earlier. Led by a very enthusiastic drummer, they are making quite a racket now too.

The groans from the City fans when their team give the ball away again soon after the restart underlines their frustrating night so far but the chants of "City, City, City" were starting to build even before Gabriel Jesus hit the post and John Stones went close.

Hoffenheim can't defend set-pieces! Seconds after that Gabriel Jesus chance John Stones meets a free-kick with a steaming effort, but Oliver Baumann holds on well!

Woof! Leroy Sane takes a corner and hits it like a shot, head-height and lasered in at real pace, Gabriel Jesus just makes contact with it and he's unlucky to see the ball fizz back off the post. Superb ball in!

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

You have to say it is deserved.

Hoffenheim have been brave, broken with such pace and in the move before the penalty Andrej Kramaric almost scored with a shot into the top corner.

The only question you could ask of Pep Guardiola, looking at the City bench is how much stronger could he have gone with Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker on there?

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at Etihad Stadium

The Hoffenheim fans have been making plenty of noise since the kick off, now their flags are flying and their drums are being beaten with real purpose. Their team have impressed and deservedly lead.