David Silva has netted three minutes from time to earn Manchester City a 2-1 victory against Hoffenheim in Tuesday’s Champions League fixture at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Ishak Belfodil gave Hoffenheim the lead in the opening minute, but goals from Sergio Aguero and Silva secure a much-needed win for Pep Guardiola’s side in Group F.
Hoffenheim went into the match having scored in each of their eight games this season, and the home side required less than a minute to go ahead in the game, with Belfodil latching onto a through-ball before slotting a shot under the advancing Ederson from 14 yards out.
City wasted little time before going onto the offensive and an equaliser arrived in the eighth minute, with Leroy Sane biding his time in the penalty area before setting up Aguero to take a touch and force the ball inside of the near post from close range.
Nicolas Otamendi sent a header wide from the resulting set piece, and City kept up the pressure with Aguero volleying marginally wide of the far post after more fine work from Sane.
Both sides were much more measured after the restart with it taking 10 minutes for either team to create a clear opening, with David Silva poking wide of the near post from close range.
Fernandinho also had a long-range strike easily saved by Baumann, and City continued to struggle to put anything together in the final third as Hoffenheim began to match the visitors in all areas of the pitch.
Aguero had a close-range header saved by Baumann soon after the introduction of Bernardo Silva, but City were denied a clear penalty by the referee when Dane was tripped by the goalkeeper inside of the area.
City finally got their second with three minutes remaining. Stefan Posch took too much time on the ball in his own area and was dispossessed by David Silva, who was able to lash a low shot into the far corner of the net.
Hoffenheim attempted to push for an equaliser, but City comfortably held out to get their Champions League campaign back on track ahead of their double-header with Shakhtar Donetsk.