Champions League: Man City punished for rotating squad, Newcastle lose at Marseille

Manchester City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Pep Guardiola's decision to rotate heavily backfired as Manchester City fell 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad.

Despite City dominating possession, the German side capitalized on counter-attacks, after Guardiola made 10 changes to his starting line-up.

Alejandro Grimaldo scored in the 23rd minute, before Patrik Schick added a second with a header in the 54th. The introduction of City's star striker Erling Haaland could not change the result, as Leverkusen's defence held firm.

The defeat ended City's 23-game unbeaten home run in the Champions League league stage.

"I take absolutely full responsibility," said Guardiola, referring to his decision to ring the changes.

"It was too much. (It was) the first time in my life I've done it and it was too much.

"You never know what would happen in the game with other players. Everybody thinks with Erling, Bernie (Bernardo Silva) and the others we should be better, but I don't have the answers. We cannot play Erling all the time for 95 minutes."

Marseille 2-1 Newcastle United

A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double completed a spirited comeback for Marseille, who defeated Newcastle United 2-1.

The visitors got off to a dream start when Harvey Barnes scored after just six minutes.

However, the veteran Aubameyang turned the game on its head with two goals in four second-half minutes. He first capitalized on a goalkeeping error from Nick Pope before poking home a second to seal a crucial home win at the Stade Velodrome.

"I think it's a concern when we concede goals, regardless of who's at fault. I think we have to look at everything with a balanced head," said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.

"He (Pope) saved us many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That's the life of a goalkeeper. But I'll certainly back him."

He added: "There are areas we can improve. These are the games we want to play in and test ourselves in.

"The second half I think we did not react to the goal. We did not react to the goal, we were on the back foot and the crowd came into it. Then we were not at our best.

"I will learn more from watching it back. We need the intent to go for more goals in games.

"The intent was there. Maybe our press was not as intense as it has been.

"1-0 is a delicate scoreline and we did not defend well enough.

"The result leaves us bruised. We have great games ahead." 

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