Manchester City vs Celtic. UEFA Champions League Group C.
Etihad StadiumAttendance51,297.
Wednesday 7 December 2016 06:27, UK
A much-changed Man City were held to a 1-1 draw by Celtic in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday evening.
Both goals came in the opening 10 minutes during a mostly entertaining game at the Etihad Stadium, with City loanee Patrick Roberts putting the visitors ahead with four minutes on the clock.
But Kelechi Iheanacho replied just minutes later, firing home into the top corner as the two sides shared the points in the last Group C meeting.
The Champions League fates of the two teams were already decided before the game, with Pep Guardiola's side having already qualified for the last 16 draw on Monday in second place behind Barcelona and Celtic exiting the European stage.
The City manager made nine changes from the side that were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea on Saturday, with only Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane keeping their places with youngsters Oluwatosin Adarabioyo and Pablo Maffeo given a chance to start.
It was who Celtic came racing out of the traps and took the lead inside four minutes as Roberts danced past Gael Clichy on the right-hand side before going for goal to fire home past Willy Caballero.
But City were not to be pegged back for long and got back on level terms four minutes later as the impressive Nolito set off Iheanacho in the box, who managed to hold of the Celtic defence before slamming home into the top corner to make it 1-1 inside 10 minutes.
The Nigerian striker could have had his second minutes later as Pablo Zabaleta - making a rare appearance in midfield - drove forward after another sublime pass from Nolito, and found Iheanacho into the box but he failed to find the target.
Moussa Demeble also went close at the other end for Celtic, with Caballero denying him twice in quick succession. The first came in the 17th minute as a delightful Stuart Armstrong ball saw him rifle an effort at the City goalkeeper before seeing another shot saved not long after and firing the rebound into the side of the net.
It could have been disaster for Celtic and Erik Sviatchenko on the 25-minute mark as a sloppy pass fell into the path of Nolito on the left of the box, who flashed a ball across the face of goal for Iheanacho but the Danish defender was back to rectify his mistake.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was called into action with six minutes of the half to play as he thwarted a clever Iheanacho back heel on the line after a lovely cross from Bacary Sanga before Emilio Izaguirre put the rebounded shot from Nolito just past the post.
A frantic first half ended in controversy as the visitors had a penalty call turned down. Roberts appeared to be pulled back by Clichy as the two made their way into the box, but the referee waved away the claims to the dismay of the Man City loanee.
The second half lacked the attacking bite of the first, although Roberts nearly produced another fast start for Celtic in the opening minutes but Dembele had been flagged for offside after playing him into the box.
City thought they had gone ahead in the 68th minute, but Nolito had a goal disallowed. He had switched the play to Jesus Navas on the right-hand side after a blistering break from the hosts, with the Spaniard flashing a cross in front of goal that Nolito fired home - but the linesman's flag was raised for offside and the strike was ruled out.
It was Celtic who went the closest in the final minutes to snatching all three points. In the 78th minute, a loose pass from Fernando fell into the path of Gary Mackay-Steven, who slid in substitute Leigh Griffiths at the top of the box but he could only power his shot past the post.
The duo linked up again five minutes later as the striker became provider, but some strong goalkeeping from Caballero saw him palm away the eventual shot from Mackay-Smith.
A curling free kick from Sane was the closest City went in the closing stages but were not able to add another, although there was not too much to be disheartened about with their place already assured in Monday's last 16 draw.
