Manchester City suffered a painful defeat against Juventus in Turin on matchday six of the Champions League 2024-2025 group stage. The result, a resounding 2-0 defeat, left the English side in a delicate position, with their passage to the round of 16 hanging by a thread.
Goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie sealed the victory for the Italians, who demonstrated their defensive solidity and took advantage of Pep Guardiola's team's shortcomings.
Goal-less Domination And City's First Half Difficulties
Manchester City started the match as expected: controlling possession and looking to open spaces in Juventus' tight defense. However, the Italian side, known for being the lowest-scoring team in Serie A, showed why their defensive system is one of the best in Europe. The home defense repeatedly frustrated City's attempts, who lacked the creativity to break through the Bianconeri wall.
The midfield, led by Kevin De Bruyne, tried to generate chances, but the lack of pace of the Belgian, who is still recovering from injury, limited his impact. In one of the few clear chances, De Bruyne slipped a pass that left Erling Haaland in front of goalkeeper Di Gregorio, but the Italian keeper made a spectacular save to keep the score at zero.
Meanwhile, Juventus began to gain confidence with counterattacks led by Kenan Yildiz. The young winger came close to opening the scoring with a powerful shot from outside the box that skimmed the post. With everything still to play for, both teams went into the break goalless, but with the feeling that Juventus were finding their momentum.
Juventus Strikes First And Dominates The Second Half
The second half started with more balance, but it was Juventus who took the initiative. Dusan Vlahovic broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a header from Yildiz's precise cross. Confirmation of the goal required technological assistance, but the referee's watch made it clear that the ball had crossed the line.
This goal was a blow to City, who accumulated their 22nd goal conceded in the last ten games, reflecting a worrying defensive fragility. Despite Guardiola's efforts to tighten up his team, Juventus kept control of the match with impeccable defending led by an inspired Di Gregorio.
Italian coach Thiago Motta made changes that paid off quickly. Weston McKennie entered the field and, just a few minutes later, sealed the 2-0 lead with a spectacular scissor kick after a precise cross from his compatriot Timothy Weah.
This second goal was the final blow for a City team that found no answers in the final stretch of the game.
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A difficult outlook for Guardiola and Manchester City
With this defeat, Manchester City remains in a critical position in the group, occupying fourth place with eight points and needing to win their upcoming matches against PSG and Club Brugge to keep their hopes of advancing alive. This result not only highlights the team's defensive problems, but also a lack of attacking punch that contrasts with the level expected from a team that aspires to conquer Europe.
Juventus, for their part, are reaffirming their good momentum under Thiago Motta, who has revitalized the team with a mix of experience and young talent. With 11 points, the Italians are very close to sealing their passage to the round of 16, showing a solid and effective version that excites their fans.
Manchester City now faces a harsh reality: a results crisis that has them on the brink of elimination from the Champions League and is forcing Guardiola to find solutions quickly. For sports fans, this match was a reminder that even the most dominant teams can fall to a well-executed strategy and an impenetrable defense.