Manchester City Collapse in Dramatic 3-3 Draw with Feyenoord, Extending Winless Run to Six Games

Manchester City’s struggles continued as they threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, marking their sixth consecutive match without a win. This result was Pep Guardiola’s worst run as a manager and left City fans both stunned and frustrated.

The Premier League champions looked to be on their way to victory, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Ilkay Gundogan netting a deflected volley to put City 3-0 ahead. Haaland’s goal came from the penalty spot late in the first half, giving the hosts a commanding lead. The Etihad crowd believed that City had finally turned a corner after a series of poor results and defensive errors, but Feyenoord had other ideas.

The Dutch side staged an incredible comeback, scoring three goals in just 14 minutes. It began with a mistake by Josko Gvardiol, whose careless back-pass in the 75th minute allowed Anis Hadj Moussa to intercept and score. This was followed by Santiago Gimenez’s close-range tap-in and David Hancko’s header in the final moments, sealing a draw that felt like a loss for Guardiola’s team.

The comeback was even more shocking given City’s apparent control and their decision to make substitutions when 3-0 up, including bringing on Kevin De Bruyne, James McAtee, and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. Guardiola said he thought the game was secure and hoped to rest key players ahead of their crucial clash against Liverpool. However, this proved to be a miscalculation as Feyenoord capitalized on City’s defensive frailty.

Guardiola expressed his frustration in the post-match press conference, saying, “It is difficult to swallow right now. The team was so committed, but when something happens, the team is not strong enough.” He acknowledged that three individual errors had cost them victory and that the team could no longer find the resilience it once had. He also defended the fans’ right to express disappointment, emphasizing that they come to watch the team perform and are justified in their reactions.

For Feyenoord, it was a historic night. Head coach Brian Priske called it “unbelievable” and praised his players for maintaining their belief and pushing for the draw despite being 3-0 down.

The numbers were telling: City became the third English club to fail to win a Champions League match after leading by three goals, following Arsenal’s 3-3 draw with Anderlecht in 2014 and Liverpool’s 3-3 against Sevilla in 2017. Additionally, this marked the first time City had conceded two or more goals in six consecutive matches since 1963, the season they were relegated.

This result leaves Manchester City 15th in the Champions League standings, with difficult away matches against Juventus and PSG on the horizon. The team’s defensive woes have intensified doubts over Guardiola’s ability to turn things around, especially with a visit to Anfield looming where City has struggled historically. The pressure on Guardiola and his squad is mounting as they seek to end this alarming winless run and revive their faltering season.