Schalke 2-3 Man City, five things we learned: VAR a work in progress and Sergio Aguero delivers again

It was Man City who ended the night with the advantage after Leroy Sane’s thunderbolt and Raheem Sterling’s late winner turned the fixture on its head

The crowning jewel in Manchester City’s trophy cabinet looked a little more distant when Nicolas Otamendi’s red card left Pepe Guardiola’s side a goal and a man down.

But it was City who ended the night with the advantage after Leroy Sane’s thunderbolt and Raheem Sterling’s late winner turned the fixture on its head.

Pep Guardiola sat with his head in his hands for much of the second half, frustrated by Schalke’s renewed solidity in defence, but was eventually delighted by the unlikeliest of results to maintain his unbeaten record against the Royal Blues. Here are five things we learned:

City struggle in knockouts

The teams may have emerged from the coal mine modelled tunnel of Schalke’s Veltins-Arena, but Man City came to Schalke looking for gold. Within 10 minutes, Guardiola’s side laid out their intentions to progress from the round of 16, pressing high and pinning helpless Schalke inside their own territory. However, having not capitalised on several opportunities to double their lead, Schalke were always left with a way back. The last three seasons have seen Man City exit at the quarter-finals (2018), round of 16 (2017) and semi-finals (2016), a deeply concerning statistic for Pep Guardiola. No doubt, Schalke will make life tough for Man City at the Etihad.

Aguero is ever-reliable

Although his goal was a tap in, the manner in which Sergio Aguero began this tie adds further weight to suggestions that the Argentine forward is one of the greatest to grace the English game. Tonight, he scored after just 18 minutes when David Silva rolled him a gift on a platter. His third Champions League goal this campaign in four appearances. That makes it 24 goals for the season in just 31 matches. Aguero may not always score pretty, but he is invariably serendipitous.

Sergio Aguero got himself on the scoresheet yet again (EPA)

Schalke seemed a kind draw... for 38 minutes

However good Man City began the tie, it must be said that Schalke looked a long distance off the pace against the English champions. Kevin De Bruyne pulled strings in central midfield for the Citizens, picking out Aguero with a precise curved pass between the sluggish Schalke centre-backs after five minutes. Aguero could not get his shot away but it was a sign of things to come for the German’s defence. Goalkeeper Ralf Farhmann played a simple pass to Salif Sane only to be pickpocketed by Silva resulting in City’s opening goal. The Bundesliga strugglers were not in the game at all until they were awarded a controversial VAR penalty from their first on target shot. Even only 13 percent of Schalke fans said their side could win this game on a pre-match poll. For 38 minutes, Man City looked as if they would run off into the night but ended up pinned back until super-substitute Leroy Sane struck a thunderbolt free-kick to save them and Raheem Sterling slotted home when Bastian Oczipka slipped.

VAR is still not the finished product

Play was halted for over two-and-a-half minutes for the decision that resulted in Schalke’s first penalty, equaliser and Nicolas Otamendi yellow card that sees him suspended from the second leg. The length of the decision is one issue that UEFA will endeavour to reduce, leaving fans in unnecessary suspense as they await a decision that at best was questionable. Yes, there is no doubt the goal-bound effort from Daniel Caligiuri struck Otamendi’s arm, but the argentine centre-half looked to be pulling it out of harm’s way. Had the referee been able to look at his pitch side screen, he may have adjudged his initial decision of a corner to be correct. Otamendi picked up a second yellow and was dismissed in the second half. Had he not been given that first yellow, had the referee used a pitch side monitor, Man City may not have been reduced to 10. We have seen issues with implementation and use of VAR too frequently. VAR must be more efficient, considerably faster than it has been so far to win over its doubters.

Schalke are a different beast in Europe

Receiving a footballing lesson from England’s finest, even at 1-0, Schalke never looked like regaining their footing in the game. One down and truly under the cosh from Man City, the Royal Blues somehow found spirit that has made their side a different beast in European football. Having their worst season domestically for ten years despite finishing as Bundesliga runners-up last season, Domenico Tedesco’s job has been kept on the continued solidity of The Miners in Europe. Battling back to a half-time lead through a brace of penalties from top-scorer Nabil Bentaleb proved once again that Schalke can compete. Tedesco’s side sat deep, employing a low block for much of the second period and frustrated Guardiola’s men until Sane’s wonder-goal.