Juventus 2-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s team threatens early elimination from the Champions League | Football News

Juventus 2-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s team threatens early elimination from the Champions League | Football News

Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie saw Juventus beat Manchester City 2-0 in Turin and put Pep Guardiola’s side in danger of an early Champions League exit.

City went into the game with just one win in their last nine games in all competitions and showed a subdued first half in which the visitors dominated possession but only managed one shot on target at the Juventus Stadium.

However, it was the kind of opening that would bury Erling Haaland, as is his wont, as he slipped through Kevin De Bruyne’s deft pass towards goal, only for Michele Di Gregorio to race off his line and the striker’s deflected shot fended off.

That miss proved costly eight minutes after half-time as Juventus made the breakthrough in sloppy fashion when Kenan Yildiz hung a ball at the back post for Vlahovic to attack and fire a close-range header past Ederson.

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Pep Guardiola made three changes from the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace and gave Ederson, who replaced Stefan Ortega, his first start in four games.

Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku also came on as substitutes, while Matheus Nunes and Savinho took their place on the bench.

City responded to the deficit with Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gündogan both going close before being caught on the counterattack with fifteen minutes left.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland (centre), Bernardo Silva (left) and Josko Gvardiol leave the pitch after their 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Manchester City’s Erling Haaland leaves the field after City’s latest defeat

The hosts broke down their left before passing the ball to Timothy Weah and although his first cross was blocked, he picked out fellow substitute McKennie who fired a spectacular volley past Ederson to end the game as a battle.

As a result, City are well into 22nd place in the new Champions League standings and with only two games remaining – at Paris Saint-Germain 25 and then at home to Club Brugge – there is a real danger of not even finishing come in the Top 24 and missed the play-offs after a seventh loss in their last 10 games.

The pressure on City and Guardiola is not letting up – they host Manchester United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Sunday, December 15th, 4:00 p.m

Kick-off is 4:30 p.m


Guardiola: If we turn things around, we won’t forget this time

Man City coach Pep Guardiola via TNT Sport:

“We played really, really well, we missed the last pass and the last action when we arrived, we conceded a few goals, the changes happen, but I’m so proud of these players, they give it their all and got it tried, and now we live in this time. “But hopefully we can change with good results – I know it’s difficult, it’s always difficult in the Champions League, but we played really well.

“We have two games and maybe need a point, a win, most recently at home – we lost to Feyenoord and Inter Milan when we were playing really well again and that caused the problems.”

“But if you go to Sporting Lisbon and Turin and Paris at this moment, our three away games were really, really tough and you have to accept that.”

“But if we turn the corner, we will not forget this time, we will have more appreciation for what we have done in the past and what we will do in the future, and now let’s get on with it.”

Hendrie: The longer it takes, the harder it becomes

Lee Hendrie on Sky Sports:

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Lee Hendrie takes a closer look at what went wrong for Man City after their 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League – next up for Pep Guardiola’s side is Man Utd

“Man City are so predictable in the way they approach games. That’s where teams figure it out.”

“Juventus is Juventus – they don’t score many goals, they defend well and then make it difficult for teams to counter.”

“If I were Ruben Amorim watching this game tonight, I would emulate what Juventus did – make them push balls wide. What’s the point of having (Jeremy) Doku on the pitch if not to deliver crosses?”

TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 11: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus controls the ball during the MD6 match of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League League Phase between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Dusan Vlahovic scored the first goal for Juventus

“I’m watching the game, they’re 2-0 down and still trying to find the perfect pass – why? Get the ball wide to your full-backs, get support and get the balls into the penalty area.”

“Try something different to beat them – Juventus just loved it.”

“Juventus weren’t even that good tonight – they narrowed it down, defended well, shot the ball over the goal, made it difficult for them, and when the first goal came the game was over.”

“They signed (Matheus) Nunes – I don’t know why, I don’t know what he brings to the side, I really don’t know. Savinho comes and does absolutely nothing.”

“It was one of those performances that was predictable and the longer this run goes on the harder it will be for them.”

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