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
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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Manchester City’s fall from grace leaves them at risk of ultimate embarrassment
It amounts to miserable seven for Pep Guardiola. The manager who started this season expected to secure his seventh Premier League title has instead now lost seven of his last 10 games. The team who used to top their Champions League group on an annual basis are now 22nd in an expanded pool. There will be no top-eight finish for Manchester City. The worst-case scenario is there will not even be a February play-off. Out of the Premier League title race, they could be out of the Champions League altogether.
A blip is turning into an extended slump. Juventus were the latest to capitalise on City’s weakness and, in the process, to improve their own fortunes. A glamour game was a bottom-half clash, 22nd against 20th. But Dusan Vlahovic’s header and Weston McKennie’s volley elevated Juve to 14th, above City and Real Madrid. There may be life in the Old Lady, if not necessarily in City’s old dogs.
Manchester City’s fall from grace leaves them at risk of ultimate embarrassment
Juventus 2-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s side are in danger of an early Champions League exit after goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie sunk them in Turin
FT Juventus 2-0 Man City
Man City are now down to 22nd in the Champions League table and are just one point away from missing out on the play-off rounds.
With two games left, City are entering the last chance saloon.
Full-time! Juventus 2-0 Man City
There goes the full-time whistle. Man City have been beaten and their hopes of a top eight finish have taken a massive hit this evening.
Juve had the better gameplan. They defended well and City weren’t threatening at the top of the pitch. Pep Guardiola has lots of questions to answer.
Juventus 2-0 Man City
87 mins: This result is going to be a bad one for Man City. Their confidence has been hit heavily and now they’re at risk of going out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.
Juventus 2-0 Man City
84 mins: Bernardo Silva is booked for letting his frustration tip over by shouldering into Federico Gatti and having a barney with Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus 2-0 Man City
81 mins: Juventus are very comfortable on the counter-attack and have a cushion now to keep City at bay. The visitors are pushing higher and higher but time is against them.
Grealish wins a free kick high up the pitch but there’s no feeling of inevitability about this one. Instead it would be surprising if City pull one back.
Juventus 2-0 Man City
78 mins: Can City find a way back into the game? If they can they’ll have to do so quickly. Mateo Kovacic has been sent to warm up and Savinho is ready to come on.
City need another level.
GOAL! Juventus 2-0 Man City (Weston McKennie, 75’)
Another one!
City are caught on the counter attack and Juventus’s substitutes do the damage. Weston McKennie sends the ball out to Timothy Weah who eases into the box.
His first cross is blocked by Rico Lewis but the second finds McKennie arriving in the area and he volleys the hosts further ahead!
Juventus 1-0 Man City
72 mins: Kyle Walker flicks in a cross from the right sends the ball over to the left where Josko Gvardiol arrives. He collects the ball and wins a corner.
City play it short and set up De Bruyne with a shot from range. He puts it over the bar.
‘Signs of life and urgency from City'
“Signs of life and urgency from City.
“They are starting to turn possession into shots, beginning to get men into the box. And yet it may be too late. They mounted many a comeback earlier in the season - albeit nearer the start of games - but there have been fewer of late.
“This is a test of spirit, of confidence and of ageing legs. Guardiola said Phil Foden was fit to play a few minutes so he could get a late cameo.”
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