Manchester City’s winless streak extended to six matches as Feyenoord staged a dramatic comeback from three goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
City seemed poised for a comfortable victory after racing to a 3-0 lead by the 50th minute, thanks to a penalty from Erling Haaland, an Ilkay Gündogan volley deflected in by David Hancko, and Haaland’s second from a well-timed slide. However, the Dutch side, led by captain Quinten Timber and inspired by a relentless belief, mounted a stunning recovery in the final 20 minutes.
The fightback began in the 74th minute when Anis Hadj Moussa capitalized on a defensive error by Josko Gvardiol, coolly dribbling past Ederson before finishing from a tight angle.
Santiago Giménez then brought Feyenoord within one in the 81st minute, tapping in a clever assist from Jordan Lotomba. With City reeling, the comeback was completed in the 89th minute when David Hancko headed home a precise cross from Igor Paixao, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling supporters.
City nearly snatched a late winner when Jack Grealish’s deflected shot struck the crossbar, but Feyenoord held firm. The result marked a historic achievement, with OptaJoe confirming it as the first instance in Champions League history where a team leading by three goals as late as the 74th minute failed to win.
For Feyenoord, the draw pushes them into 20th place in the Champions League standings, a position that currently secures a playoff spot. However, their fate hinges on results from Wednesday’s fixtures before they host Sparta Prague on December 11.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s City, winless in six games across all competitions, face mounting pressure as their season threatens to unravel.
