The first leg of the Champions League matchup between Schalke and Manchester City was a rather hectic affair. Pep’s squad was seemingly able to pull a victory out of almost near defeat.
Not one person, fan or expert, emphasized this game as one to watch, out of the wide array of Champions League games.
The emphasis was rather placed upon Liverpool vs Bayern, or Atletico Madrid against Juventus. However, this match vastly outstripped its expectations, as it proved to be worth much more attention. It was rife with late heroics, bookings, and controversial calls.
Examining the overall statistics would reveal a decided advantage for the Blues, who maintained a total of 60% possession. Also, Pep’s men posted twenty attempted shots with six on target, whereas Schalke only managed two of seven on target.
Some of the characters of this game could be found in the bookings, which saw three yellow cards handed to the Bundesliga side and four yellows and a red given to the Premier League club.