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Fans have reacted to Manchester City attacker Phil Foden starting the UEFA Champions League clash at Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday (October 1). The 2022-23 champions drew goalless at home to Inter Milan in their opener last month.
Foden, 24, is making only his second start of the season, having last started in the 2-1 home win over Watford in City's EFL Cup opener. Either side of that game, the Englishman made appearances off the bench in the 2-2 Premier League home draw with Arsenal and the 1-1 stalemate at Newcastle United at the weekend.
The City attacker made a belated start to the season following the UEFA Euro 2024 final after injuring his hamstring. He has now recovered enough to start at Slovan, with Pep Guardiola's side making six changes as they seek their first Champions League win of the campaign.
Fans are ecstatic to see Foden start, with one tweeting:
"My star boy Foden is ready"
Another chimed in:
"He's finally here. OMG HE"S BACK. I'm up for the Foden showwww"
There were similar reactions from other fans, with one yearning for a Foden hat-trick:
"I need a Foden hat-trick"
Another posted:
"PHIL FODEN STARTS FOOTBALL STARTS TONIGHT!!!!!!"
One fan wrote:
"I can feel a Haaland brace and a goal from Foden"
City are unbeaten in nine games across competitions this season, winning six, the draw at Newcastle knocking them off the Premier League perch heading into the Slovan game.
Manchester City on cusp of UEFA Champions League history
Manchester City are on the cusp of equalling the longest unbeaten run in UEFA Champions League history (not including penalty shootout losses). Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in 24 games in the competition, winning 16.
If they avoid defeat at Slovan on Tuesday, they will equal Manchester United's record of the longest unbeaten run in the competition, which was set between September 2007 and May 2009.
It's pertinent to note that City lost to eventual winners Real Madrid in the quarter-final on penalties last season, which scuppered their hopes of becoming the first team after Los Blancos to defend their title in the Champions League era.
Having started off their quest for a second title with a rather underwhelming stalemate against reigning Serie A champions Inter last month, City will look to get their campaign underway in right earnest in the Slovakian capital.
