Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie spearheaded a significant 2-0 victory for Juventus against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, delivering a substantial setback to the English champions’ aspirations of securing a top-eight position in the group stage of the prestigious tournament.
The reigning Champions League titleholders, City, have faced a concerning slump, managing only one win in their last ten matches across all competitions.
City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan acknowledged the mental struggles impacting the team’s performance, stating, “Confidence is a big part of it… sometimes one action we miss the ball or lose a duel and you can see that we drop immediately.” This lack of cohesion has led to crucial mistakes during pivotal moments.
Vlahovic opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, finding the net with a close-range header from a cross by Kenan Yildiz, which was confirmed by goal-line technology. McKennie then doubled Juventus’ lead in the 75th minute with a stunning volley from a Timothy Weah cross, catching City’s defense off guard.
Despite dominating possession and mounting pressure in search of an equalizer, City struggled to convert their chances. Notably, Erling Haaland narrowly missed a chance just before halftime, and Gündogan’s powerful shot was expertly parried away by Juventus goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio.
Guardiola remarked on the challenge posed by Italian teams, stating, “The Italian teams that defend so deep and so compact make it not easy; they are masters of these situations.” His comments reflect the tactical resilience displayed by Juventus throughout the match.
With only two games remaining in the Champions League group stage, Juventus currently sits in 14th place, while City has dropped to 22nd, perilously close to automatic elimination from the tournament. City’s defensive woes have seen them concede the most goals (21) in Europe’s top five leagues since November, marking a troubling period for Guardiola’s otherwise esteemed managerial tenure.
Looking ahead, City will face Manchester United in a crucial Premier League clash this Sunday, while Juventus will travel to take on Club Brugge the following week.
This match could serve as a turning point for Juventus, providing them with newfound confidence as they move through their season, while Manchester City will seek to regroup in time for their upcoming fixtures.