Manchester City face a challenge to get out of the UEFA Champions League group stages after a 2-0 defeat to Juventus.
Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scored for the hosts in a match where City offered very little going forward and were prone to conceding from mistakes at the back once again.
Here are three things we learned in the defeat at the Allianz Stadium
They weren’t that bad?
Juventus v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League Photo by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu via Getty Images
In terms of actual performances and what Pep Guardiola wants, they didn’t perform too badly.
Don’t crucify me for this. They seemed to be playing more as a unit and kept the ball exceptionally well for the most part.
They even progressed into the final third well but as has consistently been the case over the last few months, the issue has been the mistakes made in both boxes, which is touched upon below.
The defence is a major concern
Manuel Locatelli (C) of Juventus FC competes for the ball... Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
City were more solid at the back against Juventus. They defended transitions better for the most part and the biggest sign of improvement was the quickness in which they won the ball back after giving it away.
But the issue for the Blues was individual mistakes costing them.
Kyle Walker was much better than he has been all season, but was once again to blame for at least one of the goals, as he failed to close down the man who crossed into the box for Vlahovic’s goal.
The second goal when City were chasing the game was more like the kind of goal they’ve conceded in recent weeks, where they were cut open on the counter and McKennie was in plenty of space in the box to score.
Rico Lewis was outstrengthened numerous times by Francisico Conceicao (who is shorter than him) and Josko Gvardiol continues to look burned out.
Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake remain out for City whilst Lewis is suspended, leaving just three fit defenders, so yes, the defence is an issue:
But the attack is a bigger one
Juventus v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Other than Erling Haaland, no-one in City’s side is looking like providing a regular source of goals.
The Norwegian has played his part with 18 goals in 22 performances in all competitions this season, but no-one else has more than three goals, not even Phil Foden, who struck 27 in all competitions last season or Kevin de Bruyne who hit near to 20 the year before Haaland joined.
Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez have left whilst Ilkay Gundogan has rejoined to play in a deeper position, taking out three regular goalscorers in support of Haaland. This means more pressure is put on the likes of Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Savinho to score, all of whom have flattered to deceive from a goalscoring point of view in a City shirt.
A new striker to take at least some of the burden off Haaland is imperative in January. Next summer, a goalscoring winger (in my ideal world, Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia) should be targeted to come in and take City’s attack back up to its level of previous years.