Lewis, on the books at the club since he was eight, followed that up with a wave of celebration that suggested shock at the registration. The goal was full of intent, it went in from close range and was just what City needed on a night when they struggled to fire on all cylinders as they often do. It came at 52 minutes. Their second came 17 from the end when Julián Álvarez, replacing the injured Erling Haaland, ran onto Kevin De Bruyne’s superb through ball and finished before, moments later, the Argentine set up Riyad Mahrez for the third. City had won Group G anyway, but that result still makes them one to avoid in Monday’s last-16 draw, particularly as they stuttered in the closing stages. In the rain, Cole Palmer hit a volley over Yassine Bounou’s bar, played by youngster Jack Grealish, after the visitors’ keeper had cleared him straight away. City had Lewis at right-back on his full debut. He fell smoothly into Guardiola’s way, coming in to help flood the midfield against a third-bottom La Liga opposition who had won three times all season. Guardiola, too, immediately fell into his familiar in-game routine, Mr. City, muted throughout the half, finally threatened once more when Phil Foden’s curling free-kick fell off Ruben Diaz’s box and slid wide. A solitary move from Álvarez was the centre-forward’s only action as his team-mates struggled to create for stand-in Haaland: when City stepped up, he explained how he could. Foden collected from Stefan Ortega inside his own half, pirouetted and those in blue raced forward in a move that ended with Grealish finding Foden again, although his effort was blocked. Now, Jorge Sampaoli’s men broke quickly and suddenly Rafa Mir slipped a cross into Ortega from the right that required the German’s right arm to come out. Mir, moments later, turned away a close-range header in a similarly obscene fashion to the way Lewis had sprayed earlier: each had to test the opposing goalkeeper. Ilkay Gündogan’s radar was more accurately calibrated when he shot after a one-two with Foden, but a deflection sent the ball out for a corner from which Mahrez should have tested the erratic Bounou instead of volleying high. Those miscues were soon to be acknowledged as City conceded expertly: Isco headed in a corner from the right and Gomez allowed Mir a free header which went past Ortega into the latter’s top-left corner. Julián Álvarez puts City ahead. Photo: MB Media/Getty Images Sevilla, with nil to lose, played a high-pressing 3-4-3 which, combined with City’s absence, put them into contention. In an attempt to energize his team, Guardiola berated Diaz while waving at the centre-back. The fruits of this were a Mahrez dance down the right and a Grealish effort blocked. But missing, however, was a real threat plus the serial distracting Spaniard that is City’s calling card when at their best. As the interval approached, Guardiola certainly had some choice words ready to start his men because, while this was a dead rubber, the Catalan hates to lose. What he certainly did was do a rejig: he took off Grealish for Rodri, the central No.1 in midfield, with Foden moving wider and Gündogan shuffling a central position to occupy the latter’s former position. Start your evenings with the Guardian’s view of the world of football Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Two tries – through Foden and Gomez – showed some promise early in the second half and, after a mis-check by Palmer, City were level thanks to Lewis’ strike. Álvarez, pouncing on a loose ball near the D, slipped him and from a testing corner on the right it went over Bunu. Pure and understandable delight from Lewis, his team-mates, Guardiola and the home faithful and, at last, City were a blue riot, spilling over into Seville, as when Mahrez’s mad run threatened the second. Guardiola sent for more cavalry: Bernardo Silva’s trick replaced Gudogan’s more straightforward offering, but the sight of a rudimentary football from Foden to Alvarez had the manager’s disbelief bursting at the seams. His team’s firmer control was more pleasing as the ball was flicked on with ease as they looked for a way to break Sevilla down. To that, Guardiola added the imposing Kevin De Bruyne plus Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, for the 19-year-old’s second senior appearance. De Bruyne’s impact was instant, setting up for Álvarez, while Wilson-Esbrand’s involvement saw a Guardiola reeling. The city continues: no one will want to face them.
