Manchester City sinks further into crisis with defeat to Juventus in the Champions League
3 min read
Manchester City has won only once in their last 10 matches. Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
Manchester City’s woes deepened with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League, extending their poor run to just one win in their last 10 matches, which includes seven losses. This alarming slump has left City in serious danger of failing to reach the knockout stages of the competition. The loss against Juventus, thanks to second-half goals from Dušan Vlahović and Weston McKennie, highlighted a team in crisis, as City struggled to maintain the form that has made them one of the world’s most dominant teams in recent years.
The defeat marks City’s worst run of form since 2006 and one that manager Pep Guardiola has never experienced in his career. Despite the talent at his disposal, including stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Jack Grealish, Guardiola’s side has been unable to find the winning formula. After the Juventus loss, a visibly frustrated Guardiola spoke to TNT Sports, claiming his team played well but struggled with finishing. “We missed the last pass, the last action when we arrived near the goal. We conceded few chances, of course, some transitions happened, but I’m so proud of the players. I know they give everything, they tried, and now we’re living in this period, but hopefully, we can change the results.”
While injuries to key players such as Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Nathan Ake have undoubtedly affected the defense, the absence of Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner, has been a significant blow. The lack of composure and control, despite having players like Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and İlkay Gündoğan, has been striking. This team, which has enjoyed so much success under Guardiola, is now riddled with nerves and mistakes, a stark contrast to the calm, dominant side fans have come to expect.
Looking ahead, Manchester City faces a crucial week, beginning with the Manchester Derby against United at the Etihad on Sunday. They will also travel to Aston Villa the following weekend. In the Champions League, City’s remaining group-stage matches are away to Paris Saint-Germain and at home to Club Brugge. Currently sitting in 22nd place, they will need to finish in the top eight to avoid a two-legged playoff for the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Barcelona continued their excellent run with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in Germany. The match featured a dramatic second half, with Raphinha putting Barça ahead early after the restart. Dortmund equalized through a penalty by Serhou Guirassy, but Ferrán Torres restored the lead for Barcelona in the 75th minute. Guirassy quickly leveled again for Dortmund, but Torres sealed the win five minutes from the end with a clinical finish on a counterattack. The victory puts Barcelona in second place in their group, while Dortmund is just outside the automatic qualification spots in ninth.
Arsenal also boosted their chances of automatic qualification with a 3-0 victory over Monaco at home. Bukayo Saka was the star, scoring twice, with Kai Havertz adding a third in the final minutes. The win brought Arsenal back to form after a recent draw against Fulham, and they now sit in third place in their group. Monaco, on the other hand, remains in 16th place, struggling to find consistency in the competition.
In other Champions League action on Wednesday, Atlético Madrid triumphed 3-1 over Slovan Bratislava, while Lille won 3-2 against Sturm Graz. AC Milan secured a 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade, and Feyenoord dominated Sparta Prague with a 4-2 victory. Benfica and Bologna played out a goalless draw, and Stuttgart hammered Young Boys 5-1.
The Champions League group stage is now entering a critical phase, with teams vying for a spot in the knockout rounds. For Manchester City, the pressure is mounting, and Guardiola will need to find a solution quickly if they are to avoid an early exit from Europe’s top competition. Meanwhile, teams like Barcelona and Arsenal are in strong positions, looking to secure automatic qualification and keep their momentum going into the knockout rounds.
About The Author
