Manchester City 1-1 Middlesbrough, 2016 Premier League: Post-Match Reaction

Manchester City followed their famous Champions League win against Barcelona with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough. Sergio Agüero scored for City after a sensational first half, but Boro held on to a 1-0 deficit and pulled off a miracle equalizer late in stoppage time.

The first half was a one-team show, with City having nearly 90% possession and firing shot after shot against Victor Valdés, who made fantastic save after fantastic save. But City never stopped putting the pressure, and deservedly scored a great goal: Kevin De Bruyne played a spectacular cross to the box, and Agüero tapped the ball in away from Valdés to put City in front at halftime.

Boro went forward at the start of the second half, forcing Claudio Bravo to make a couple of big saves, but the visitors couldn't really produce a real scoring chance after a ten-minute spell of attacking football. City weren't able to repeat their first half performance and conceded a last-minute goal. Crap.

Man City: Bravo | Zabaleta, Stones, Kompany, Clichy | Fernandinho | Navas (García), Gundogan (Nolito), De Bruyne, Silva | Agüero (Iheanacho)

Goal: Agüero (43')

Boro: Valdés | Barragán, Chambers, Gibson, Friend | Traoré (Stuani), De Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Downing (Fischer) | Negredo

Goal: De Roon (90+2')

Reactions

• As tough a game as expected. Boro have a good team and they came to the Etihad looking to defend and defend some more. City played amazing in the first half, though, and should have wont he game.
• The cross from De Bruyne for Agüero's goal was just insane. The whip on that ball was simply incredible.
• Fernandinho's passing in this game was exceptional. He tried all the passes: short, medium and long, and was perfect in all of those. Fantastic performance.
• Speaking of fantastic performances, what about Victor Valdés? It took 18 shots for City to finally score the first goal, and the Boro keeper was amazing this afternoon. Well done, VV.
• Alvaro Negredo almost scored the goal of his life on his return to the Etihad. Of course he did.
• City played poorly in the second half, but that's understandable. The Barça game was very demanding, physically and mentally, but the first half was fantastic and should have earned the goal and the win.
• Stones and Kolarov were quite great as a center-back partnership. They anticipated plays, made very smart last-second tackles and saved City from trouble in a few times.
• Yet, after all of that, Boro level. Typical.