MANCHESTER CITY really do have a mountain to climb to get back to where they once were.
This game – played in the shadow of the Alps – showed just how far they have fallen since the end of October.
Dusan Vlahovic’s header – which somehow squeezed past Ederson – and Weston McKennie’s volley mean it is now one win in 10 for Pep Guardiola’s men
Seven of those have been defeats and now the boss has to pick his weary troops up for Sunday’s Manchester derby.
In recent years, they have made light work of the Champions League groups – effortlessly gliding through.
Yet when the competition returns in a month’s time, a finish in the top 24 is by no means guaranteed.
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Their next game is at old foes Paris Saint-Germain, who also need the points – followed by a home game against Club Brugge.
From kings of Europe 18 months ago to scrambling to make the Last 16 play offs is a sobering fall from grace.
And right now City look completely devoid of confidence – shipping goals alarmingly at the back while struggling to take their chances at the other end.
It has been a nightmare six weeks for Pep – who don’t forget signed a new two-year contract in the middle of all the chaos.
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A trip to Turin might look daunting but Juve have lost four their last six European games at their Allianz Stadium.
Thiago Motta’s men started out a couple of places behind City in the table – clinging on to a place in the play-offs by their fingertips.
Guardiola recalled his first-choice keeper Ederson, who had paid the price for his erratic display in the last Champions League game against Feyenoord.
That result – when they threw away a three-goal lead in 15 astonishing minutes – had left their place in this tournament beyond January in some doubt.
Pep had once again had to patch up his team – playing Rico Lewis as a left back after his eventful day at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
City were seeing plenty of the ball which is what Guardiola had asked of them before the game – suggesting they needed to go back to basics.
But they were struggling to create much and at the other end they were relieved to see a shot from Kenan Yildiz drift just wide.
The Turkish winger also showed City skipper Kyle Walker a clean pair of heels on more than one occasion.
First-half struggles
England defender Walker can no longer rely on his pace as he used to and this time he had Ruben Dias to thank for making a key block.
Meanwhile, City failed to record an effort of note in the opening half hour – the first time that has happened in a European game in four years.
Erling Haaland saw an effort blocked by Teun Koopmeiners before it ricocheted into the grateful arms of Michele di Gregorio.
The pair were face to face again moments later as the Norwegian ran onto a trademark pass from Kevin De Bruyne.
He tried to lift it over the home keeper who got enough on it to keep it out and the best chance of the half was gone.
The City boss would have been pleased with the amount of possession his team had – but slightly concerned how little they had created and how pedestrian they looked at times.
Juventus get the lead
Meanwhile after shipping seven goals in their previous two matches in this competition, at least they had kept the home team at bay.
Guardiola knew failure to win here would have put their hopes of finishing in the top eight and qualifying automatically for the Last 16 almost out of the question.
A two legged play-off in February is the last thing a squad that has already stretched by injuries needs.
Not surprisingly, City’s best moments came from De Bruyne and his low cross soon after the restart found Ilkay Gundogan – but the German’s tame effort was blocked.
And the two misses proved costly with Juventus taking the lead as Federico Gatti’s acrobatic effort was pushed away by Ederson.
Josko Gvardiol made a hash of clearing his lines and Yildiz swung the ball back over.
Another Gvardiol error
Vlahovic got up highest and while Ederson scooped it around the post, goaline technology said it had already crossed the line.
It was a matter of millimetres but it was a poor goal to concede and another error by Gvardiol, who is having a miserable time right now.
City knew they had to snap into action and they did – but Juventus were throwing everything in the way to protect their lead.
Bernardo Silva saw a good chance blocked while De Bruyne’s long-range effort fizzed just past the post.
Di Gregorio dived full stretch to push Gundgan’s effort from the edge of the box around the post.
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But as they pushed for an equaliser they were caught on the break as sub Timothy Weah – son of former City player George – broke down the right.
His cross made its way to US international team-mate McKennie whose volley had too much on it for Ederson.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
