On a brisk evening in Bratislava on October 1st, 2024, Manchester City delivered a dominant performance, comfortably defeating Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in their UEFA Champions League group-stage encounter. Goals from Ilkay Gündogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and James McAtee secured City’s first victory in this year’s campaign. The win not only bolstered their points tally but also underlined their status as serious contenders for European glory once again.
Manchester City, fresh from a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in their previous Champions League match, traveled to face Slovan Bratislava in what was anticipated to be a crucial game for Pep Guardiola’s men. Coming off the back of a 5-1 thrashing by Celtic, Slovan Bratislava hoped to find redemption against the reigning Premier League champions.
From the opening whistle, City dominated possession, and their quick, fluid play left Slovan Bratislava struggling to maintain a foothold. The hosts defended bravely but were overwhelmed by City’s relentless attacks.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Head-to-Head
This was the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides, with Manchester City expected to win convincingly against the Slovak champions. Slovan, still reeling from their heavy defeat to Celtic, faced a tough challenge against a City side boasting attacking talent such as Haaland and Foden.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Lineups and Substitutes
Slovan Bratislava (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Dominik Takac
- DEF: Cesar Blackman, Kevin Wimmer, Guram Kashia, Kenan Bajric
- MID: Kyriakos Savvidis, Danylo Ignatenko, Vladimír Weiss, Marko Tolic, Tigran Barseghyan
- FW: David Strelec
- Substitutes: Sharani Zuberu, Július Szöke, Nino Marcelli, Róbert Mak, Lukás Pauschek
Manchester City (4-3-3):
- GK: Ederson
- DEF: Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis
- MID: Ilkay Gündogan, Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden
- FW: Jérémy Doku, Erling Haaland, Savinho
- Substitutes: Rúben Dias, James McAtee, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City First Half
City wasted no time asserting themselves. In the 8th minute, Ilkay Gündogan opened the scoring with a well-placed shot from outside the box. His effort deflected off Savvidis, leaving goalkeeper Takac wrong-footed. This was Gündogan’s first goal since rejoining City after his spell with Barcelona.
Just seven minutes later, Phil Foden doubled City’s lead. The English midfielder capitalized on a superb pass from Jérémy Doku and curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Slovan Bratislava struggled to contain City’s high press and intricate passing, and they were fortunate to avoid further damage before halftime, with City hitting the woodwork multiple times.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Second Half
The second half began much like the first, with City pressing high and keeping the hosts pinned in their half. In the 58th minute, Erling Haaland added a third goal. A beautiful through ball from Rico Lewis allowed Haaland to round Takac and slot the ball into the net, marking his 42nd Champions League goal. His evening ended two minutes later as James McAtee replaced him.
McAtee then added a fourth in the 74th minute, calmly finishing after a clever chip from Foden. It was McAtee’s first-ever goal for Manchester City, capping off a memorable night for the youngster.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Full-Time Details
The match ended 4-0 in favor of Manchester City, a scoreline that flattered Slovan Bratislava as City could have scored more, having peppered the home goal with 28 shots, 14 on target.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Stats
| Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Stats | Slovan Bratislava | Manchester City |
| Possession (%) | 23.7% | 76.3% |
| Shots | 3 | 28 |
| Shots on Target | 0 | 14 |
| Fouls | 2 | 8 |
| Corners | 0 | 15 |
| Saves | 10 | 0 |
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Timeline
- 8′: Goal! Ilkay Gündogan scores with a deflected shot to give City the lead.
- 15′: Goal! Phil Foden makes it 2-0 with a brilliant left-footed strike.
- 58′: Goal! Erling Haaland nets his 42nd Champions League goal, rounding the keeper to finish.
- 74′: Goal! James McAtee scores his first City goal after being set up by Foden.
- Full Time: Slovan Bratislava 0, Manchester City 4.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Player Achievements
- Erling Haaland: 42nd goal in the Champions League, continuing his incredible European goal-scoring form.
- James McAtee: Scored his first-ever goal for Manchester City, a dream come true for the young midfielder.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City Impact on the Points Table
With this win, Manchester City now sits at four points in their group, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages after their earlier draw with Inter Milan. Slovan Bratislava, on the other hand, remains bottom of the group with zero points after two heavy defeats.
Man of the Match
Phil Foden was awarded the Man of the Match for his goal, assist, and tireless play in midfield. He was instrumental in creating chances and dictating the pace of the game.
Manchester City’s 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava was a statement performance, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical discipline. With key players like Haaland and Foden delivering standout performances, City looks poised to challenge for European honors once again.
FAQs
- Who scored the goals for Manchester City in the UCL 2024-25 Slovan Bratislava vs Man City?
- Ilkay Gündogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and James McAtee.
- What was the final score in the UCL 2024-25 Slovan Bratislava vs Man City?
- Manchester City won 4-0 against Slovan Bratislava.
- Who was the Man of the Match in the UCL 2024-25 Slovan Bratislava vs Man City?
- Phil Foden for his goal and assist.
- How did Haaland perform in the UCL 2024-25 Slovan Bratislava vs Man City?
- Haaland scored the third goal and was a constant threat before being substituted.
- What was the impact of the match on the points table?
- Manchester City moved to four points, boosting their chances of progressing to the next round.
