City suffered Champions League disappointment as Pep Guardiola’s side went down to a 2-0 defeat away at Juventus in our latest European clash.
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Though the Blues enjoyed much of the possession and territory in Turin, second half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie proved decisive.
City strove every sinew to try and break a well-drilled Juventus side for whom goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio produced two fine saves either side of half-time but it was the hosts who prevailed.
The result left City on eight points in our Champions League campaign from six games played, lying in 22nd place in the 36-strong composite table with two matches left.
What happened
Though a noisy and partisan home crowd sought to summon up an intimidating atmosphere at the home of the Old Lady, it was City who initially clicked into gear at the Allianz Stadium.
With the recalled Jack Grealish deployed in a more central role and Bernardo Silva operating on the right flank, Pep Guardiola’s troops were straight onto the offensive dominating territory and possession.
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But with the hosts content to sit back and pack bodies behind the ball whilst seeking to pounce on the break, it more resembled a game of chess in the initial stages as City probed and tested the Italians’ resistance.
However, it was Juve with the first meaningful effort of the night on 20 minutes amidst what proved a cagey and slow burn of an opening half.
A lightning Juve break saw Kenan Yildiz let fly from 22 yards out on the left edge of the box with Ederson – also back in the starting line-up – happy to see the Turkish winger’s shot whistle narrowly wide.
At the other end a black and white brick wall stubbornly sought to keep City at bay, before on 39 minutes City came agonisingly close to the opener through Erling Haaland.
As so often, a delicious Kevin De Bruyne through-ball split open the Juve defence and found the advancing Norwegian charging into space.
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Haaland raced through into the box and dinked in a delicate chip, but keeper Michele Di Gregorio reacted quickly, racing off his line and throwing up his left hand to make a superb save.
City came out after the restart looking to up the pressure but instead it was Juve who drew first blood on 54 minutes.
A spectacular Gatti volley midway in the City box was saved by Ederson but Juve were able to rework the ball and from a superb Yildiz cross striker Dusan Vlahovic rose highest to head in on goal from six yards out.
Ederson sought to keep the effort out, but it marginally crept over the line on the rebound, goal line technology ruling the ball had fully crossed the line albeit by the narrowest of margins.
It was a body blow but City sought an immediate response with Doku and Lewis both seeing shots charged down.
The Blues then carved out a fine opportunity as Grealish found the advancing Bernardo in space on the right flank just on the hour, but Silva’s goal bound shot was blocked by former City full-back Danilo.
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With City ramping up the tempo and urgency, a Doku cross went begging across the face of the box before De Bruyne saw a drilled effort arrow narrowly wide.
Di Gregorio then produced another spectacular save on 68 minutes to deny Gundogan, the Juve keeper diving to his left and parrying away the German’s pin-point shot.
Crucially however, it was the hosts who struck again with 75 minutes on the clock.
With City committing men forward, Juventus burst out at pace once again.
Though his initial cross was blocked, substitute Timothy Weah delivered an inviting effort from the right flank at the second time of asking and found fellow substitute Weston McKennie who acrobatically converted a flying volley past Ederson.
Lewis then saw another threatening shot intercepted with time running out to sum up a night of frustration in northern Italy.
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TEAMS
JUVENTUS: Di Gregorio (GK), Gatti, Locatelli, Danilo (C), Francisco Conceição (McKennie 68), Koopmeiners, Vlahović (Mbangula 84), Kenan Yıldız (Douglas Luiz 84), Kalulu, K. Thuram (Weah 68), Savona
Subs: Perin (GK),Pinsoglio (GK), Adžić, Fagioli, Rouhi
CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Doku (Savinho 79), Grealish (Nunes 87), Haaland
Subs: Subs: Ortega, Hudson, Kovacic, Foden, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand
Record breaker
Bernardo Silva chalked up his 74th Champions League appearance since joining City back in the summer of 2017.
And in the process that meant Bernardo overtook Fernandinho in terms of being the player to have made the most UEFA Champions League appearances for the Club.
Ilkay Gundogan, who also started in Turin, was making his 73rd City UCL start, moving the German up alongside Ferna to joint second in the standings.
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Pep’s reaction
“We played really, really good, we missed the last pass and action. We conceded a few, but some transition it happens. I am really proud of these players.
“They gave everything and they tried. Hopefully we can change the results.
“I know it is difficult in the Champions League.
“We have two games left, the last one at home.
“When you go Sporting Lisbon in that moment, and Turin and Paris, our three games away were really really tough. You have to accept it.
“When we turn things around we will not forget that period. We will appreciate it more what we have done in the past, and what we are going to do in the future.
“For now, let’s continue to do it.”
Ilkay Gundogan reaction
“It’s very disappointing. I feel like we did have chances to score goals.
“But at the moment, it feels every attack we concede is so dangerous. We are feeling we are a bit careless.
“At the moment, it’s just not working out for us.
“If you watch, we don’t play bad, we play good and create chances. We miss the score.
“If you give away one chance and score, it’s not easy to bounce back.
“It’s just trying to find the switch to turn things around. It doesn’t feel like we are far off it, that’s what I feel. As long as we don’t find the click it will be tough.”
What it means
The result means City have eight points from six games and now lie in 22nd place in the 36 strong table with two games to play in January.
We travel to Paris Saint-Germain and then entertain Club Brugge in January.
What’s next
City return to the Premier League and a huge encounter at that on Sunday, December 15 when we play host to Manchester United.
The Etihad derby is set to get underway at 16.30pm with the Manchester bragging rights up for grabs alongside vital league points.