Juventus vs Man City LIVE: Champions League reaction as Vlahovic and McKennie goals earn fine win
Juventus 2-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s team slumped to a seventh defeat in 10 games
Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a seventh defeat in 10mgames when they were beaten 2-0 away at Juventus leaving them on the verge of an early Champions League exit.
For all the pre-match talk of legacy and a fighting mentality, City looked nervous and slow as they attempted to assert some control on the game by maintaining possession. Too often they failed to create openings for Erling Haaland and the striker only had one good opportunity to score in the first half but was denied by Michele Di Gregorio.
Playing with a mid-low block worked to frustrate City and Juve opened up more in the second half, pushing higher up the pitch and opening the scoring through Dusan Vlahovic’s headed effort. City’s defence, which at times looked shaky, failed to properly clear the danger and were punished.
The hosts added a second with a superb counter attack that was finished off by American duo Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie with the former Leeds United midfielder putting the cap on a fine night for the Serie A side.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Juventus 1-0 Man City
69 mins: What a save!
Grealish brings the ball down the left and City play it inside. It comes to Ilkay Gundogan who lets fly from the edge of the box. Di Gregorio leaps to the left and pushes the ball wide of the post.
Juventus 1-0 Man City
66 mins: The Juventus fans are enjoying themselves now. Pep Guardiola not so much.
Kevin De Bruyne takes a shot from just outside the penalty area and pulls his effort wide of the target. Guardiola gives him a clap for the effort but the City boss is far from comfortable.
Juventus 1-0 Man City
63 mins: Oh!
Sometimes City are turning it on. Mainly when they move the ball quickly. Doku goes down the left and passes it back to De Bruyne. He sends the ball into the box to complete the one-two and Doku laces a pass into the six yard area.
Haaland was the target but he dropped expecting the cutback instead.
Juventus 1-0 Man City
60 mins: An hour gone and City still searching for a glimpse of their old selves. They look so shaky and broken when Juventus get into the penalty area.
‘It gets worse for Man City'
“It gets worse for Manchester City with a seventh defeat in 10 now on the cards.
“Some unconvincing defending from Josko Gvardiol and some unconvincing goalkeeping from Ederson, trying to chest Dusan Vlahovic's header off the line.
“But it all came from Juve centre-back Federico Gatti running into the City box, staying there and threatening to score with a bicycle kick.”
Juventus 1-0 Man City
56 mins: Man City need a response now. Pep Guardiola will be scratching his head again looking for answers. Will he look to the bench?
Juve can sit back and defend if they want to. Instead they seem intent on adding a second goal.
GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Man City (Duson Vlahovic, 53’)
There’s the breakthrough!
It’s come to the hosts who have stepped things up in this half. A cross from deep comes into the box and finds Federico Gatti whose effort is palmed away by Ederson.
Josko Gvardiol’s clearance isn’t good and Kenan Yildiz collects the ball. He flicks it back into the box and finds Dusan Vlahovic. The forward heads the ball at goal and hits Ederson in the chest.
The ball ricochets over the line and the home fans erupt in cheers.
Juventus 0-0 Man City
51 mins: Doku looks to dribble his way into the box from the left but has three defenders on top of him. He manages to release the ball but City do nothing with it and Juve recover possession.
They look to break quickly but Ruben Dias fouls Vlahovic to end the developing threat.
Juventus 0-0 Man City
48 mins: An early Juventus corner is nodded out of the box and drops for Kenan Yildiz. He attempts a volley and hooks it well wide of the target.
A sign of Juve potentially opening up more to get up the pitch perhaps? We can hope.
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