ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — The title Glazer and footballing catastrophes have gone hand in hand in Manchester for years.
However the Glazer household’s rank mismanagement of Manchester United tends to happen within the shadows away from the inexperienced and yellow protest scarves.
In contrast, their namesake and Crimson Star Belgrade goalkeeper Omri Glazer made a present of himself underneath the brilliant lights of the Etihad Stadium in a 3-1 Champions League defeat on Tuesday night time.
In reality, it’s a bit of harsh to single Glazer out. The Israeli worldwide’s sterling work earlier than halftime, repelling Rodri’s piledriver and thwarting Phil Foden from point-blank vary as Manchester Metropolis racked up 22 pictures on aim, performed a major half in Crimson Star claiming a shock 1-0 lead over the European champions.
Livewire ahead Osman Bukari solely wanted one shot as he caught Ruben Dias napping to present the Serbian giants their ill-deserved benefit. It was their solely shot of the half and Pep Guardiola’s treble winners have been handed a uncommon lesson in effectivity.
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Julian Alvarez was a menace to Crimson Star earlier than the break, all the time popping up in area he had no proper to have on the sting of the realm. When the Argentina star burst into the opposition field early within the second half, he appeared to have run out of room altogether as Haaland overhit the cross.
Nevertheless, the person nicknamed La Arana (the spider) confirmed the kind of dexterity you’d solely usually affiliate with an eight-legged creature as he touched the ball round Glazer and rolled his studs over it to complete in a single rapid-fire motion.
The Crimson Star goalkeeper remained busy. He made a hash of an Alvarez shot from vary within the 57th minute however immediately atoned with a wonderful cease to disclaim Haaland on the follow-up.
Glazer’s luck ran out a number of moments later after Marko Stamenic introduced down Metropolis full debutant Matheus Nunes on the left-hand nook of the penalty space. Alvarez’s free-kick dipped and curled sharply, however to not the extent that Glazer ought to have punched recent air and heard the dreaded nestle in his prime nook.
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Álvarez ➡️ Haaland ➡️ Álvarez ➡️ ⚽️
That help although. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pj737eAlP2
— CBS Sports activities Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2023
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Unbelievable footwork from Julián Álvarez to degree it up for Man Metropolis! 🔥🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/EO6BOjc1qp
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Crimson Star midfielder Mirko Ivanic gave Glazer a conciliatory hug, an expression of sympathy that mentioned it might have been any of the visiting gamers to crack underneath the strain Metropolis have been exerting. Who’d be a goalkeeper?
There was no time to sulk for the 27-year-old, who once more denied Haaland on a uncommon night time of non-public failure for the Ballon d’Or nominee and he additionally saved sharply from Metropolis substitute Jeremy Doku earlier than their Champions League closing hero Rodri did his factor of expertly selecting out the nook with a exact side-footed end.
It says plenty of the jeopardy or lack thereof that exists for a lot of the elite sides at this stage of the Champions League that by far probably the most concerned participant for a membership who have been themselves European champions in 1991 was their goalkeeper. Including a pair extra group video games from subsequent season is hardly going to boost the spectacle of an more and more polarised sport.
As early as the primary half, a few of the press field dialog had turned in direction of who would possibly cease Metropolis of their quest to go back-to-back. If anybody, it’ll be one of many standard suspects.
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Rodri picks up proper the place he left off.
Final season’s #UCL closing goalscorer has his first of the season. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Sl66O3N9dE
— CBS Sports activities Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2023
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The approach on this Rodri aim 🤤
Pinpoint from Man Metropolis’s #UCL hero 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tOsuJIHl7M
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Bayern Munich have been Metropolis’s hardest opponents throughout final season’s knockout phases. Their lack of a striker badly undermined them throughout a 3-0 defeat on the Etihad Stadium. They’ve added Harry Kane, who shall be a direct downside for his or her close to neighbours in Munich on Wednesday.
Actual Madrid have been swatted apart within the semifinal second leg, arguably probably the most full and ruthless efficiency of the Guardiola period. They’ve added Jude Bellingham however misplaced Karim Benzema.
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You surprise how Xavi’s vibrant however untested Barcelona aspect would possibly stand as much as such an examination. Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp suggests it may be enjoyable discovering out.
Metropolis overcame going a aim down and being with out Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic to safe a win that by no means actually felt unsure towards Crimson Star. Haaland misfired and one other of the world’s finest younger strikers, Alvarez, irresistibly took centre stage.
An terrible lot can occur between now and subsequent Could’s closing at Wembley. But it surely feels sure {that a} formidable Metropolis workforce but to hit prime gear will take some beating now the Champions League monkey is off their again.