Vlahovic and McKennie pile more misery on Man City

Juventus inflicted further misery on Manchester City by beating the Premier League champions 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, thanks to second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie.

Both sides came into the game needing a victory to keep hopes of a top-eight finish alive.

During a lacklustre first half, a touch of brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne slid Erling Haaland through on goal, only for goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to deny the marksman.

The young Juventus side started to believe an upset was on the cards after the break and some hesitant defending allowed Vlahovic to score the opener, despite goalkeeper Ederson trying his best to stop the ball crossing the line.

City continued to dominate possession without opening up the Juventus defence and were throwing extra men forward in search of an equaliser.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side were hit on the break again as substitute Timothy Weah found fellow American replacement McKennie unmarked inside the box to put the match beyond reach.

The Christmas break in Champions League football will allow Guardiola to regroup his side before a must-win match at PSG, before hosting Club Brugge in their final group match.

Another defeat at PSG could result in City exiting the Champions League before the knockout stages.

In the immediate future, City have the stern test of a Manchester derby on Sunday in the Premier League.

Guardiola will continue to search for a solution to his defensive nightmare as City conceded two soft goals again in Turin.

Going forward, City looked one-dimensional and slow as the Juventus defence marked De Bruyne and Haaland out of the game. However, City have been used to sides sitting in two blocks of four and defending for their lives.

The Premier League champions were once renowned for their stubborn defence at the other end allowing them to throw bodies forward, but they are now leaking goals at key moments.

Casual defending and failing to clear their lines resulted in Vlahovic opening the scoring and turning the tide in Turin.

City again dominated possession but were found completely open on the break with McKennie completely unmarked to finish the tie.

Guardiola’s side are now winless in their last six away games and are without a win on the road since October.

With Juventus unable to play their usual possession game, the Serbian striker was left feeding off scraps during the first half.

However, he pounced on the 53rd minute, muscling his way through the City defence and seeing his header squirm through Ederson’s gloves and over the goal-line.

Goals change games and this one resulted in City needing to throw more bodies forward and being left open on the counter-attack, resulting in a second goal.

20’ – YILDIZ FLASHES EFFORT WIDE: The first purposeful effort on goal from either side. City fail to clear their lines from an initial cross into the box. The ball comes back for Yildiz who fires wide with Ederson at full stretch.

39’ – HAALAND DENIED: A touch of vintage Manchester City as De Bruyne turns and sends a lovely ball through into the path of Haaland. However, goalkeeper Di Gregorio is out at his feet quickly to save.

53’ – GOAL! JUVENTUS 1 (VLAHOVIC) MANCHESTER CITY 0: Juventus come forward and Gatti sends a flying volley which forces Ederson to save. The resulting cross from Yildiz finds the head of Vlahovic. Despite the best efforts of Ederson and the covering defender the ball is judged to have gone over the goal-line.

68’ – GUNDOGAN EFFORT SAVED: Di Gregorio makes it look a spectacular save as he picks stretches to tip over Gundogan’s effort. However, the City midfielder could have hit that with more power.

72’ – GOAL! JUVENTUS 2 (MCKENNIE) MANCHESTER CITY 0: City are hit on the break with substitute Weah crossing for fellow replacement McKennie who is left unmarked inside the box and fires home

Juventus: Di Gregorio 7, Savona 7, Kalulu 7, Gatti 7, Danilo 7, Locatelli 6, Thuram 6, Conceicao 6, Koopmeiners 6, Yildiz 7, Vlahovic 7. Subs: Douglas Luiz 6, Mbangula 6, McKennie 7, Weah 7.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Dias 6, Gvardiol 6, Lewis 5, De Bruyne 7, Gundogan 6, Silva 7, Doku 7, Haaland 6, Grealish 7. Subs: Nunes 6, Savinho 6.