Man City vs Red Star Belgrade LIVE: Champions League result as Julian Alvarez hits double in comeback win
Man City 3-1 Red Star Belgrade: Alvarez scored twice after half time as the holders came from behind to begin their Champions League defence with three points
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Your support makes all the difference.Holders Manchester City recovered from falling a goal behind to outclass Red Star Belgrade 3-1 in their Group G opener with Julian Alvarez scoring twice at The Etihad.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated the opening period but were guilty of wayward finishing and trailed to a sucker-punch just before halftime as Osman Bukari broke clear to finish in style.
City began the game on a 26-match unbeaten run in Champions League home games and normal service was resumed almost immediately after the restart as Alvarez levelled after combining with Erling Haaland.
A misjudgement by Red Star keeper Omri Glazer allowed an Alvarez cross to go into the net on the hour and Rodri made it 3-1 with a clinical finish after 73 minutes as City made it 19 home wins in succession in all competitions.
Man City vs Red Star Belgrade
Here come the teams. Manchester City are defending the Champions League trophy which is one of the most difficult prizes to win back-to-back.
Pep Guardiola has set his sights on that goal this year so he’ll be hoping his men get off to a perfect start tonight. Kick off is up next.
Man City vs Red Star Belgrade
Erling Haaland scored 12 goals in the Champions League last season, more than any other player. However, the Man City striker has failed to score in his last three appearances, his longest run without a goal in the competition.
Will he get back on the scoresheet tonight?
Man City vs Red Star Belgrade
Manchester City boast an impressive record at the Etihad Stadium in this competition. They have not lost in any of their last 25 encounters here.
It is a run that stretches back to a 2-1 loss against Lyon on Matchday 1 back in 2018/19.
How the Champions League lost its spark and led to the end of an era
There was a rare wistfulness around the Champions League draw in Monaco, where football’s most powerful and wealthy gathered in a fittingly ostentatious setting. An era was about to pass.
If the competition’s group stage has recently become a round to pay minimal attention to, this is a season to really savour it. That is because it’s the last one before the introduction of the Swiss system.
This will be the last campaign we go through the satisfying symmetry of the round-robin, hoping it builds up to one of those final matchdays – part of a lexicon that is the stage’s legacy – where it is anything but symmetrical and chaos reigns. The clean nature of the format has produced some wonderfully untidy endings.
How the Champions League lost its spark and led to the end of an era
The last season of the Champions League group stage comes as the tournament again looks short of unpredictability and drama, writes Miguel Delaney, but altering the format is addressing the wrong issue
Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles
Pep Guardiola has challenged his Manchester City side to achieve something special and win back-to-back Champions League titles.
The treble winners begin the defence of their European crown as they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
City finally put years of near-misses behind them to win the competition for the first time last season but, while Guardiola is proud of their achievements, he feels their mission is not yet over.
The City manager said at a press conference: “I’d like to say that for our club to win the Champions League is incredible – the first time in our history – but, in perspective, how many teams have won the Champions League once?
Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles
The treble winners begin the defence of their European crown as they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday
Champions League group stage changes: What will the tournament look like next season?
It’s the end of an era for the Champions League, as the tournament plays out the last season of its current format before major changes are introduced in 2024.
The most significant reforms to the Champions League in a generation were announced by Uefa in 2021, days before the failed European Super League plot was launched back in 2021, and they received unanimous backing from the European Club Association and Uefa Club Competitions Committee.
It confirmed plans to change the format of European football’s top club competition from 2024, giving the tournament its first new look in 20 years. The proposals were not met with the same level of backlash that greeted the Super League plans but were still criticised by leading fans’ groups, including the Football Supporters’ Association [FSA].
What will the new Champions League group stage look like next season?
This is the last season of the 32-team format before major changes are introduced in 2024
Guardiola on Ederson
Pep Guardiola spoke about his No. 1 goalkeeper, Ederson, ahead of Man City’s Champions League opener and explained why he feels the Brazilian is only going from strength to strength.
“He’s matured and he’s getting even better,” Guardiola said on Tuesday, “We are a team that doesn’t concede too much and I have the feeling that when the opponents arrive he is there.
“The first save in the one-on-one against [Michail] Antonio, the moments he makes the last touch a little bit longer he was there.
“Especially the corner, with [James] Ward-Prowse he is an incredible threat, and [Kurt] Zouma with the tall incredible headers but he made a good save and at that moment it was 1-1.
“We had 16/17 shots in the first half against West Ham which is quite impressive, but these details make the difference and Ederson was there again.”
Kyle Walker staying at City
As part of his media duties in the build-up to tonight’s match, Kyle Walker explained his decision to stay at Manchester City and sign another contract extension.
“Why should I want to leave this great team?” said Walker when asked why he decided to stay at City, “For me it was just about the years [on the contract].
“I’m 33 years young and I still feel great. For me it was about settling in, I didn’t really want to sign another year to then have this conversation again next year. I wanted to be settled not just for me but for my family as well.
“I feel that now I am settled, you see in the performances that I don’t have it in the back of my mind because it does play on your mind where you know you’ve got a little bit of uncertainty.
“I want to stay at this Club for as long as possible because why would I leave a team that’s gone on and won three Premier Leagues in a row, a Treble and a Champions League?
“If I’d have left in the summer I don’t go and score the winning penalty at the Super Cup and lift that. It’s working out so far but it’s early days.
“Nothing’s decided at this moment in time in the Premier League or any other competition and we need to make sure that, as we are nine times out of 10, there into the later stages.”
Who are TNT Sports’ Champions League presenters, commentators and pundits?
TNT Sports’ football coverage will be led by four female presenters this season as it seeks to “push the boundaries” of sports broadcasting.
TNT Sports is the new name for the channel formerly known as BT Sport, with Laura Woods confirmed as host of its Champions League coverage alongside Reshmin Chowdhury. Jake Humphrey, who fronted BT’s Champions League coverage last season, stepped back from his role in May.
Lynsey Hipgrave will continue to host live Premier League coverage on TNT Sports, having done so since the start of last season, while Jules Breach has replaced Des Kelly as the broadcaster’s pitchside reporter.
Who are TNT Sports’ Champions League presenters, commentators and pundits?
TNT Sports has replaced BT Sport and will be the home of Champions League football in the UK this season
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