Juventus have moved to the top of Group D and qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a game to spare following a 1-0 win over Manchester City in Turin this evening.
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Manuel Pellegrini's side began brightly and Fernandinho went close with a fierce low drive in the fifth minute after Juventus could only clear a corner straight to the Brazilian midfielder.
Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala then sent efforts wide of the target, but the Juventus strikers were offside on both occasions.
Man City's best chance of the first half fell to Fernandinho, who reacted quickly after Giorgio Chiellini's challenge on Yaya Toure broke inside the area in the 16th minute, but the midfielder blazed the ball high over the bar from 15 yards.
Two minutes later, the hosts took the lead as Mandzukic shrugged off a weak challenge from Nicolas Otamendi to volley home Alex Santos's left-wing cross.
The Croatian striker almost doubled his tally in the 28th minute with a swivelling half-volley, but Joe Hart dived low to his left to keep out his effort.
Toure then saw his 30-yard strike curl inches wide of the far post with Gianluigi Buffon stranded and the Ivorian had another opportunity a few moments later, but he scuffed a weak effort wide.
Hart made a crucial save shortly before half time as he flung himself at the feet of Stephan Lichsteiner, who had raided forward from right wing-back.
Then it was the turn of Buffon to perform heroics, as he rushed from his goal to deny Sergio Aguero, who couldn't take advantage of a one-on-one chance after being presented the ball by Claudio Marchisio's blind backpass.
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City came close to levelling in the 53rd minute when Buffon pushed Fernando's header onto the post before gathering the loose ball under pressure from Toure.
Juventus struck the post themselves a few moments later as Alvaro Morata chipped Hart with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute, but Stefano Sturaro could only strike the post from two yards out.
Chiellini flung himself in front of Aguero's goalbound volley in the 67th minute as the game became more and more stretched with full time approaching.
Hart made a last-ditch save to stop Morata from doubling Juventus's lead before Raheem Sterling skewed his attempt wide from six yards out at the other end.
There was more worrying news for Man City in the latter stages as Hart limped off with an injury, and they were unable to trouble Buffon in the final few minutes as Juventus jumped ahead of them at the top of the group.
Kristian Johnson
