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Manchester City logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 15, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Juventus logo

1-2

Chiellini (57' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)
Mandzukic (70'), Morata (81')

Match Analysis: Manchester City 1-2 Juventus

Sports Mole analyses the Champions League clash between Manchester City and Juventus.

Juventus came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in their Champions League group stage opener this evening.

The Citizens took the lead when Giorgio Chiellini headed the ball into his own net under pressure from Vincent Kompany.

Mario Mandzukic then levelled for the Bianconeri when he guided Paul Pogba's cross past Joe Hart, before Alvaro Morata fired in a late winner to seal the points.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the events that unfolded at the Etihad.

Match statistics

MANCHESTER CITY
Shots: 13
On target: 5
Possession: 59%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 20

JUVENTUS
Shots: 10
On target: 3
Possession: 41%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 9

Was the result fair?

Manchester City will feel that they did enough to claim at least a point this evening, but Juventus showed a cutting edge in the final third that their opponents were missing. The Citizens dominated possession for large spells, although they struggled to get in behind the Bianconeri's defence. Manuel Pellegrini will also be frustrated that his team lost the match after throwing away the lead, as their poor form in the Champions League continued.

Manchester City's performance

City made a strong start to the match and they almost took the lead in the opening minutes when Raheem Sterling was denied brilliantly by Gianluigi Buffon. They showed more attacking intent throughout the first half, but after the break they looked sluggish, although they took a controversial lead when Chiellini turned the ball into his own net after appearing to be fouled by Kompany. However, they failed to build upon the goal and their defence went to sleep to allow Mandzukic to equalise, before a further lapse at the back saw Morata allowed too much time and space to score the winner.

Juventus's performance

Juventus have made a poor start to their domestic campaign, but they rediscovered their form to claim all the points at the Etihad. Massimiliano Allegri's team produced a committed defensive performance to frustrate their opponents for large spells and they looked relatively comfortable throughout the match. They may have lost some crucial players over the summer, but Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were rocks at the back, while Pogba showed his class in the centre of midfield. Their two strikers also showed a clinical finishing touch, and it should provide a major boost to their confidence as they return to Serie A duty at the weekend.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Gianluigi Buffon: The veteran goalkeeper was at his best this evening and made a string of outstanding saves. He denied Sterling in the opening minutes of the game and stopped the England international again shortly after his team conceded. At the age of 37 he is still performing at the highest level and will be desperate to help guide the club to success in Europe to complete his trophy collection.

Biggest gaffe

Some of the finishing from City this evening was below standard and Bony must take some of the blame for their lack of goals. The striker had a great chance to score in the first half, when he was found unmarked in space on the edge of the box, but fired the ball well wide of the target.

Referee performance

Had Juventus not got anything from the match, then they would have blamed referee Damir Skomina and his officials for allowing City's goal. There appeared to be a clear foul when Kompany climbed all over Chiellini as the defender turned the ball into his own net, but a foul was not given much to the Bianconeri's protestations.

What next?

Manchester City: The Citizens will look to bounce back when they take on West Ham United at the Etihad on Saturday evening.

Juventus: The Bianconeri are next in action with a trip to Serie A rivals Genoa on Sunday.

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Juventus' forward from Croatia Mario Mandzukic (C) scores past Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart during a UEFA Champions League group stage football match between Manchester City and Juventus at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, north-west Eng
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