Feyenoord stuns Manchester City with sensational comeback

Feyenoord pulled off an incredible comeback to earn a 3-3 draw against Manchester City in a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Etihad Stadium. The Dutch side, fought back from a 3-1 deficit against the Premier League champions, showcasing resilience and determination in one of the most memorable matches of their European campaign.

Early pressure from Manchester City

The match began with Manchester City exerting heavy pressure on Feyenoord, pinning the visitors back in their defensive half. Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther, chosen ahead of the returning Justin Bijlow, was called into action early, denying Erling Haaland with a smart save from a header. Jack Grealish also came close, but his volley deflected off teammate Phil Foden, keeping the scoreline level. Despite City’s dominance, Feyenoord weathered the storm and gradually grew into the game. Their first chance fell to Igor Paixão, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Ederson. However, just before halftime, City’s pressure paid off. Quinten Timber fouled Haaland in the box, and the Norwegian striker calmly converted the penalty, giving the home side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.

City’s blitz early in the second half

Manchester City came out firing in the second half and quickly seemed to put the game out of reach. Ilkay Gündogan doubled the lead with a shot that deflected off David Hancko and past Wellenreuther. Moments later, Haaland struck again, finishing off a well-worked move assisted by Matheus Nunes. The goal marked Haaland’s 44th in just 46 Champions League matches, further cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest strikers. At 3-0, it appeared City was cruising toward victory. However, Feyenoord refused to back down, sensing an opportunity as City began to ease off the intensity.

Feyenoord’s remarkable comeback

The turning point for Feyenoord came with the introduction of Santiago Gimenez, who made his return from injury after two months on the sidelines. The Dutch side capitalized on defensive complacency from City, with Anis Hadj-Moussa pouncing on a misplaced pass by Joško Gvardiol. The young forward skillfully rounded Ederson and slotted the ball home to reduce the deficit to 3-1. This goal reignited Feyenoord’s belief, and their momentum grew as the match progressed. Eight minutes from time, Gimenez marked his return in style, scoring to bring Feyenoord within one goal. The visitors then completed their stunning comeback just before the final whistle, with Hancko redeeming himself for his earlier deflection by scoring the equalizer.

Late drama and a hard-earned point

Manchester City pushed desperately for a winner in the dying moments, with Jack Grealish striking the post in added time. However, Feyenoord’s defense held firm, securing a remarkable draw against one of Europe’s top teams. For Manchester City, the draw extends a difficult run of form, raising questions about their consistency. Despite their early dominance, they failed to close out the match and were punished for their defensive lapses. Pep Guardiola’s side will need to regroup quickly as they continue their European campaign.