Juventus showcased a perfect away performance on Tuesday night as late Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata goals stunned the Etihad resulting in the first City defeat this season. Before throwing all 3 points away, City managed to go 1-0 up just on the hour mark through a Giorgio Chiellini own goal.
At the game yesterday, and, the atmosphere around the stadium was somewhat different to what it has been in past European matches; fans were excited and expectant of their beloved City to carry their incredible league form into Tuesday night’s Champions League clash. But, fear not, ‘typical City’ have and will always find a way to disappoint such hopes.
Looking at the fixture before kick off and it was all set up for a home win. Despite Aguero’s knee injury keeping him out, Silva and Sterling did re-join the team and play in the front four with Nasri and Bony – De Bruyne sidelined again. Juventus, with injury problems themselves, have only managed a single point out of a possible nine this season and considering the forms of both sides, not many predicted City to lose this one.
Pellegrini, like the rest of us, was left frustrated at the amount of clear chances City missed. This host of missed chances would prove to be the difference on the night; Sterling, Bony and Silva the culprits that lacked the cutthroat finish to win the game on the night. Although, credit to Gianluigi Buffon, who did make some incredible saves.
Talking Points
Without Sergio Aguero on the night, City would have to look for goals through their £28million man, Wilifired Bony. Unfortunately, the Ivorian showed City fans why they needed Aguero so much. The big man did well in the air and his hold up play was typically quality, but, Bony was static for 90 minutes and offered City no pace at all in a very slow blue attack. His performance epitomised with the chance he so wastefully spooned over the crossbar after cleverly nut-megging a Juve defender.
On the night, Kolarov and Nasri were especially disappointing. For me, both players are very similar in their frustrating inconsistency. We are aware of the talents of both players when they’re fighting for their place in the starting XI, but when they get comfortable with playing week-in-week-out they seem to lose the qualities they displayed to get in the first team.
Lastly, Pellegrini’s substitutions last night were all over the place. After taking out our only pacey option in attack by replacing Sterling with De Bruyne, City, dare I say this, missed Jesus Navas’ urgency in attack. The Spaniard has received a lot of stick after recent performances, but the quick winger was missed against Juventus. After that, another weird sub came when Nicolas Otamendi made his City debut in place of captain Kompany. We were told Vincent Kompany had a minor calf problem, but, watching him walk to the bench without any treatment at all he seemed to look fine. Finally, Aguero made a comeback with five minutes to go, which was a good sign for City. After warming up for the majority of the second half, Kun came on and looked physically fit to play, which leads me to question; why didn’t he come on sooner?
A Credit to Juventus
A very defensive and slow set-up in the first half was quickly turned around in the second by manager Allegri. The Old Lady came out firing for the second 45 and key players were finally finding some space to run into and attack – which was so unlike the first, where the travelling Italians created near nothing in-front of goal. Only three shots on target all night in fact.
Goalscorers, Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic, took their chances very well, and, despite putting in very mediocre performances on the night, they had the killer instinct that City missed. Pogba, given far too much time on the edge of the box, produced magic in the form of a wonderful out-swinging curled ball to assist Mandzukic, who took his chance very well. The comeback was then rounded off when Morata rolled the ball past Otamendi and impressively hit a curled shot with his weak foot that hit the post and went in.
The bigger picture
Not all is to fear for City fans though, the blues still have 15 points to play for and are in no way out of contention from qualifying through group D. A must win match in Germany against Monchengladbach comes next, and then followed by a double bill with Sevilla, the coming weeks will be decisive for Manchester City’s Champions League future.
However, to qualify as leaders of the group will be even tougher now as you’d expect the returning leg in Italy to require all 3 points. A reality check on Tuesday night will surely eliminate any chances of complacency in their next Premier League fixture against West Ham and will hopefully inspire City to be even stronger than they already have been.
