Manchester City’s recent struggles continued with a disheartening 2-0 defeat against Juventus in the Champions League group stage, a result that underscores their alarming decline since the end of October. This loss, occurring in Turin, marks their seventh defeat in their last ten matches, a stark contrast to their typically dominant performances in Europe. Dusan Vlahovic’s header, which narrowly squeaked past Ederson despite appearing to be saved, and Weston McKennie’s late volley sealed the victory for Juventus, leaving City with a single win in their last ten outings across all competitions. This poor run of form casts a shadow over their upcoming Manchester derby and raises serious concerns about their prospects of progressing smoothly in the Champions League.
The defeat to Juventus highlights a worrying trend for City. Their once effortless glide through the Champions League group stages has been replaced by a precarious scramble for a top 24 finish, a stark fall from grace for the team that reached the final just 18 months ago. Their remaining group stage matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge have now taken on added significance, with qualification for the knockout stages suddenly looking far from certain. The team’s current form is characterized by defensive vulnerabilities, as evidenced by the goals conceded against Juventus, and a struggle to convert chances at the other end. This lack of cutting edge in attack further compounds their difficulties.
Manager Pep Guardiola, who recently signed a new two-year contract amidst this turbulent period, faces the daunting task of revitalizing his squad. The trip to Turin, though challenging on paper, presented an opportunity against a Juventus side that had also experienced inconsistencies at home in European competition. However, City failed to capitalize, and the defeat only adds to the pressure on Guardiola to find solutions and restore the team’s confidence. He made several adjustments for the match, recalling Ederson in goal after his shaky performance in the previous Champions League fixture and deploying Rico Lewis as a left-back.
Despite dominating possession, a hallmark of Guardiola’s teams, City struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Their first notable effort came after half an hour, a significant departure from their usual attacking prowess. Erling Haaland, typically a reliable goalscorer, was thwarted on two occasions by Juventus goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio. While City’s possession-based approach was evident, their build-up play lacked the usual incisiveness, and they appeared pedestrian at times. Defensively, they managed to contain Juventus in the first half, a positive considering the seven goals they had conceded in their prior two Champions League matches.
The second half saw Juventus break the deadlock through Vlahovic’s controversial header. While Ederson appeared to have clawed the ball away, goal-line technology confirmed that it had crossed the line by the narrowest of margins. This goal, following a defensive error by Josko Gvardiol, further compounded City’s woes. Despite their efforts to find an equalizer, City were caught on the break late in the game, with McKennie’s volley securing the win for Juventus. The goal, assisted by Timothy Weah, son of former City player George Weah, added a layer of irony to the defeat.
This latest setback for Manchester City raises serious questions about their ability to turn their season around. The upcoming Manchester derby looms large, and Guardiola must find a way to lift his weary squad and address their ongoing issues. Their struggles in the Champions League, once their domain, are particularly concerning, and their upcoming matches against PSG and Club Brugge will be crucial in determining their fate in the competition. The team’s current form is a far cry from the dominant force they once were, and the pressure is mounting on Guardiola to rediscover the winning formula.
