‘Man City lucky to win’
Manchester United and Manchester City salvaged Champions League Matchday 2 for the Premier League last Wednesday.
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England's top division was staring at an embarrassing record of just one win in its first eight Champions League group stage matches after both Manchester clubs fell behind 1-0. But United and City both managed to pull out 2-1 victories over Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach, respectively.
Though relieved by the win, City’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini said they did not deserve their last-minute victory. Sergio Aguero's penalty earned a 2-1 win, with keeper Joe Hart saving a penalty before the Germans took a 1-0 second-half lead.
Nicolas Otamendi scored the equaliser as City recovered from the 2-1 loss to Juventus in their opening Group D game. "We had a bit of luck to win the game," said the 62-year-old Chilean.
City had been beaten in three of their four previous matches in all competitions, including Premier League losses to West Ham and Tottenham as well as the defeat by the Italian champions.
"Against Juventus and West Ham we didn't deserve to lose and maybe today we didn't deserve to win but we did," added Pellegrini.
But the victory - only the third in their past 12 Champions League matches - boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for a third successive season under Pellegrini.
Man United also equalised in the 34th minute on a penalty by Juan Mata and grabbed the lead on Chris Smalling's 53rd-minute goal that was set up by Mata's brilliant backheel to the delight of the Old Trafford faithful.
Benfica came from behind to surprise Atlético Madrid 2-1, taking the lead in Group C of the Champions League.
Ángel Correa put the hosts ahead from inside the area in the 23rd minute after a neat exchange of passes between Juanfran and Antoine Griezmann, but Nicolás Gaitán equalised with a left-footed shot in the 36th and Gonçalo Guedes put the Portuguese champions ahead after a fast break.
Atlético, the 2014 runners-up, dominated much of the match and created most of the scoring opportunities, missing chance after chance. The Brazilian World Cup veteran goalkeeper Júlio César made several outstanding saves to help his team come away from Madrid with the three points.
Benfica had not scored in three consecutive away matches this season, but here they were ruthless. The two-times defending champions in Portugal are trying to advance to the last 16 for only the second time in their last eight Champions League campaigns, and now have six points from two rounds, having won 2-0 at home to Astana two weeks ago, and a comfortable lead at the top of the group.
