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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Manchester City beaten by Juventus

Mario Mandzukic's first-half goal fired Juventus back to the top of the Group D as City missed the chance to win it themselves with a match to spare

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Manchester City beaten by Juventus

Manchester City lost for the second game in succession as they were outclassed by Juventus in Turin, falling to a 1-0 defeat to leave them staring down the barrel of a tough second round tie against a group winner.

Mario Mandzukic scored the opener early in the first half, his second against City this season after netting Juventus' equaliser in the reverse fixture at the Etihad, that strike proving the winner in a mistake-strewn game.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini made a trio of changes from the weekend's mauling at the hands of Liverpool, bringing in  Nicolas Otamendi, Gael Clichy and Fernandinho for Eliaquim  Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling.

The City defence looked shaky from the start against a strong Juventus side, with Mandzukic joined by Paulo Dybala up front and Paul Pogba surging forward from midfield whenever there was a hint of an attacking opportunity.

Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal as Juventus beat Manchester City to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal as Juventus beat Manchester City to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.

City spent most of the evening pressing for an equaliser, probing and thrusting at a Juventus defence who looked less than impressive, gifting Sergio Aguero a golden chance just before half-time, which Gianluigi Buffon did well to save.

City came within inches of grabbing an equaliser within ten minutes of the restart, Buffon getting down brilliantly to his left to push a Fernando header onto the post, saving well from Yaya Toure's shot on the rebound as the home defence showed some cracks against City's formidable attacking unit.

j[JUVENTUS V MANCHESTER CITY - HOW THE MATCH UNFOLDED]

As careless as the Juventus looked at times though, they could be safe in the knowledge that City's back four looked worse at the other end. Injury to their captain meant that Pellegrini's men started without Vincent Kompany for the tenth time this season - and Mandzukic's early goal, turning home Alex Sandro's cross after some horrendously weak defending from Otamendi meant that they are yet to keep a single clean sheet in his absence.

One chance in particular summed up City's Kompany-free back line perfectly - substitute Alvaro Morata being set free down the inside-right channel without a single City defender within yards of him. His shot, lifted over Hart but going slightly wide, made its way to  Stefano Sturaro arriving at the back post - again without a single defender pressuring him, but unable to beat the angle, instead hitting the post.

Further problems emerged for City later in the game which could have a huge impact further down the line as Joe Hart was forced off with an injury, Pellegrini being forced to bring on Willy Caballero for the final ten minutes after Hart had pulled off some fantastic saves to keep his side in the game.

​Manchester City had their chances but lost to Juventus again
​Manchester City had their chances but lost to Juventus again

To cap off a thoroughly miserable night for City and their 1,600 travelling fans, substitute Raheem Sterling rediscovered his Liverpool form in front of goal - spurning a brilliant chance to equalise when he poked a shot wide from just six yards out, a touch from a diving defender pushing it further wide to ever-so slightly spare the 20-year-old's blushes.

Lineups

Juventus: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro, Mandzukic, Dybala.

Subs: Neto, Zaza, Morata, Cuadrado, Lemina, Rugani, Evra.

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Toure, De Bruyne, Aguero.

Subs: Caballero, Sterling, Kolarov, Delph, Maffeo, Adarabioyo, Celina.

FBL-EUR-C1-JUVENTUS-MANCHESTER : News Photo
FBL-EUR-C1-JUVENTUS-MANCHESTER : News Photo