Tevez 'toys' as Gomez double-strike sinks City

style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: 600;"Fri 25th Jan, 2013

Allianz Arena - Mario Gomez continued his hot streak with two first-half goals as Bayern Munich showed their Champions League pedigree with an impressive 2-0 defeat of Manchester City.

The game might have taken a different course had former City defender Jerome Boateng been penalised for cumbersome first-half challenges on David Silva and Micah Richards in the box. The German defender's dubious challenge on Silva during the opening exchanges looked especially worthy of a spot-kick. If the Spanish World cup winner had been a little more theatrical, he might have gained a penalty. Instead he stayed on his feet and tried to play in Frenchman Samir Nasri and the chance was soon snuffed out.

But other than these sporadic incidents and an early half-chance for ex-Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, City were flat and bereft of a creative spark. Recent big money signing Sergio Aguero was an expensive passenger.

And 'Super Mario' Gomez continued his prime poaching form with a double-strike to settle the game as a contest before the half-time interval. City's England international goalkeeper Joe Hart could not hold man-of-the-match Franck Ribéry's rasping drive on 38 minutes. Hart made a tremendous follow-up save to deny Thomas Müller but was helpless to prevent Gomez from tucking home the rebound from close range.

Worse was to follow for the English side on the brink of half time as Gomez doubled Bayern's lead. Toni Kroos floated over a free-kick that another ex-City defender Daniel van Buyten flicked goalwards. Again, Hart saved but failed to hold. And once again Gomez was in the right place to tap home and send the home fans into ecstasy.

A modest Gomez later added: ''I didn't play that well but I scored two goals. I prefer it that way.''

For most visiting supporters the second half will be overshadowed by want-away striker Carlos Tevez's refusal to come on as a substitute. City coach Roberto Mancini wanted to bring on the sulking striker with 35 minutes remaining in a vain attempt to retrieve a 2-0 deficit. But after the 27-year-old refused to play, Mancini said: ''If I have my way he will be out. He's finished with me.''

Mancini will hold emergency talks with City's owners from the Abu Dhabi United Group and the fiery Italian manager will want to finally send Tevez packing.

Meanwhile, the Bayern juggernaut rolls on. 10 successive wins, 28 goals scored and none conceded. The Bavarians lead the Bundesliga and comfortably head Champions League Group A with two wins out of two.

Certainly the good times have returned for the record German champions after the resounding disappointment of the final days of Louis van Gaal's tenure.


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