A Stinging Blow to Man City’s Champions League Hopes

Manchester City’s European struggles deepen after Juventus land a 2-0 blow in Turin.

December 12, 2024
12:21 pm

Juventus pulled off a crucial 2-0 win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, keeping their unbeaten streak alive in this heavyweight clash and leaving Pep Guardiola’s squad with some serious questions.

Both teams came into the match eager to prove themselves, especially after struggling for form lately. But what went down in Turin wasn’t the masterclass everyone expected; both sides were a bit sloppy at the start. City had the ball but couldn’t make it count, while Juventus took advantage of the chaos with some sharp play.

The warning signs for City popped up just 20 minutes in when Juventus’ young star Kenan Yıldız nearly broke the deadlock with a long-range shot that zipped past the post. Yıldız kept causing trouble, setting up Dušan Vlahović, but the striker’s first touch let him down.

City’s best chances came late in the first half when Erling Haaland finally found some space. But Manuel Locatelli’s last-minute block and Michele Di Gregorio’s smart save kept the Norwegian from scoring off Kevin De Bruyne’s usual brilliant passes.

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After halftime, Juventus took charge. Federico Gatti’s defensive heroics were quickly followed by Vlahović outmuscling Joško Gvardiol to head the Bianconeri into the lead. The Serbian’s effort wasn’t the cleanest, but it was enough to get past Ederson and tilt the match in Juventus’ favor.

City pushed hard for an equalizer, but it just wasn’t their night. Bernardo Silva had his shot blocked by Danilo, and De Bruyne, despite his endless creativity, fired wide when he needed to stay cool. Juventus, on the flip side, made the most of their rare chances. Timothy Weah’s perfect cross found Weston McKennie, who smashed a volley into the net to double the lead and send the Allianz Stadium into a frenzy.

City’s frustration was clear as they struggled to break down Juventus’ solid defense, highlighted by Silva’s late shove on Gatti. Guardiola’s men now sit uncomfortably in 22nd place in the UCL standings, holding onto hope for progression but with just one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions. For Juventus, this win was a much-needed morale boost, lifting them to 13th and close to the top eight.

It was a tough night for City fans, who are used to seeing their team as favorites, not faltering. The loss to Juventus is a reminder that the reigning Premier League champions need to find their spark fast—or risk a rough European campaign.