El Manchester City tuvo que remontar pero, como era previsible, empezó la defensa del título superando con facilidad los 1/16 de final de la Copa de la Liga tras golear por 6-1 al Wycombe, equipo de la tercera categoría del fútbol inglés cuyo foco de atención fue Adebayo Akinfenwa, su corpulento delantero y capitán de 39 años.
Ante la veteranía y potencia física del carismático jugador visitante, Pep Guardiola se vio obligado a oponer una defensa con cuatro jugadores de 18 años a quienes Akinfenwa doblaba la edad (Conrad Egan-Riley, Finley Burns, Luke Mbete-Tabu y Josh Wilson-Esbrand). Todos ellos debutaron al igual que el medio Romeo Lavia, de 17, debido a las bajas de Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodri y Gündogan y a las rotaciones, ya que dio descanso a Cancelo y Rúben Dias, pero en ataque el técnico catalán dio minutos a Kevin de Bruyne y Phil Foden, recién recuperados de sus lesiones.
Sin posesión, pero se adelanta el Wycombe
El City monopolizó el balón con un aplastante 80% de posesión, pero en la fase inicial del partido no tuvo un acierto en el remate acorde a su nivel de creación. En cambio, el Wycombe se adelantó en una de sus pocas aproximaciones.
Zack Steffen se vio obligado a desviar a córner un peligroso chut cruzado de Jordan Obita y, tras el saque de esquina, Ryan Tafazolli aprovechó un rechace para servir en bandeja el gol a Brandon Halan, que marcó a puerta vacía (22').
La maquinaria goleadora se activa
Aunque no conseguía ver puerta, al City no le dio tiempo de ponerse nervioso. Tardó un poco pero finalmente la maquinaria goleadora se activó a la media hora, cuando De Bruyne logró su primer gol de la temporada al recibir por la izquierda de Foden, que estrenaba titularidad este curso, y cruzó a la red con suficiencia.
El City sentenció la eliminatoria antes del descanso pese a que Raheem Sterling y Riyad Mahrez estrellaron el balón en el poste con sendos disparos desde fuera del área (32' y 42').
El 2-1 llegó tras una buena jugada por la izquierda del joven Wilson-Esbrand, cuyo pase retrasado desde la línea de fondo lo cruzó a la red Mahrez (43'). En el descuento de la primera parte Foden, que inuaguró su cuenta esta temporada,puso el 3-1 con un potente disparo que se comió David Stockdale.
Tres goles más en la segunda parte
En la segunda parte, en cambio, el meta del Wycombe demoró la goleada con sus intervenciones hasta que a 20 minutos del final el City completó el 'set' a su antojo. De Bruyne cocinó el cuarto y el quinto gol. En el 4-1, el belga puso un balón en profundidad a Foden, cuyo centro raso al segundo palo lo empujó Ferran Torres.
Y en el 5-1 , De Bruyne envió a Sterling, quien desde la línea de fondo retrasó para que fusilara Mahrez, autor de un doblete (83'). Cole Palmer había entrado por Torres y el prometedor delantero de 19 años completó la goleada con un potente disparo.
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