Manchester City 1-2 Juventus: Late Morata stunner

Manchester City suffered familiar a European wobble as they surrendered a lead to lose their Champions League Group D opener 2-1 to Juventus.

City looked in control at the Etihad Stadium after taking a controversial 57th-minute lead when Giorgio Chiellini turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Vincent Kompany. But Manuel Pellegrini’s men paid the price for failing to convert a series of other chances as Juve hit back with a Mario Mandzukic finish and a stunner from Alvaro Morata.

It was yet another example of City failing to deliver on the biggest stage, and was actually a surprise given the form of the two sides coming into the game. Juve, last season’s runners-up and Serie A champions for four successive years, had failed to win any of their opening three games, while City had won five in a row without conceding.

But without star striker Sergio Aguero — who made a surprising late appearance off the bench having initially been ruled out with a knee injury — City lacked a cutting edge.

Raheem Sterling spurned an early chance after Fernandinho robbed Stefano Sturaro. The former Liverpool man opened his body and tried to place his shot inside the far post but veteran Gianluigi Buffon saved with his feet.

It was some time before City threatened again as Juventus gained a grip with £70 million-rated Paul Pogba — a reported target for City last summer – -strong in possession and on-loan Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado looking dangerous. Pogba slid the ball into the net from a Cuadrado cross, but Morata was flagged offside.

SEE MORE: Why Juve fans should (or, should not) be worried about their team’s start.

City had a good spell as Fernandinho won the ball from Pogba and fired over before Aleksandar Kolarov sent a free-kick across goal. Wilfried Bony then twice fluffed his lines by slicing horribly wide after a smart run and then failing to turn in a low Kolarov cross. Fernandinho had another good chance when a clearance fell to him and sat up nicely but his powerful drive flew wide.

The second half began slowly but changed completely after City grabbed the lead. Kompany celebrated as if he had claimed his third goal of the season as he rose to meet a David Silva corner, but the ball went in off Chiellini. Chiellini felt he had been impeded by Kompany and protested to the referee, but to no avail.

The goal energized City, and moments later Silva broke free and played in Sterling. Buffon saved well and then quickly regained his footing to produce an even better stop to deny the in-rushing Silva. Bony fired in another shot from a tight angle but again Buffon saved.

City were made to rue those misses as Juve responded. Joe Hart needed to save on Sturaro, and City had a big let-off when Pogba miscued a volley.

But the Italians broke through when Pogba swung in a cross for Mandzukic, and the Croatian timed his run to perfection to guide the ball in via the far post.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini surprisingly opted to take off the influential Kompany at this point and hand a debut to Nicolas Otamendi. The City skipper had shown no obvious signs of injury and did not look pleased.

Otamendi was caught out as Morata fired Juve ahead nine minutes from time, but it was all about the finish. Morata broke clear on the left and curled an unstoppable shot round Hart and inside the far post.

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TWEET OF THE MATCH

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

PLAYER RATINGS

Manchester City

Joe Hart: 5 (out of 10)

Bacary Sagna: 6

Vincent Kompany: 7

Eliaquim Mangala: 6

Aleksandar Kolarov: 5

Fernandinho: 8

Yaya Toure: 6

David Silva: 7

Raheem Sterling: 5

Samir Nasri: 4

Wilfried Bony: 4

Substitutes:

Kevin De Bruyne: 5

Nicolas Otamendi: 5

Sergio Aguero: 6

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon: 8

Patrice Evra: 6

Giorgio Chiellini: 8

Hernanes: 7

Leonardo Bonucci: 7

Stephan Lichsteiner: 6

Paul Pogba: 8

Stefano Sturaro: 7

Alvaro Morata: 7

Juan Cuadrado: 8

Mario Mandzukic: 6

Substitutes

Paulo Dybala: 5

Andrea Barzagli: 6

SEE MORE: Kelechi Iheanacho will be the first of many from City’s new vision.

STAR MAN

Gianluigi Buffon. The various junctures at which City lost this game will be picked over but if they had taken more of their chances they could have won comfortably. Buffon was principally responsible for denying them, producing several good saves including a fine double stop from Raheem Sterling and David Silva in the second half.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Alvaro Morata. Juve won the game with quite a brilliant goal from Morata. Questions may be asked of City’s defending in the immediate preceding moments but Morata had no right to score from his position on the left. His shot was curled around Joe Hart to perfection.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

City boss Manuel Pellegrini seemed to have got things right as his side, sent out in familiar formation, took control of the game. But they failed to see out the job and opposite number Massimiliano Allegri will be highly relieved after his side’s frustrating start to the season.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

City’s critics will no doubt point out the stadium was not sold out for another Champions League glamour night, but there are always mitigating factors. B£30 is pricey for many fans, midweek nights are inconvenient, especially given Manchester’s current traffic problems and city center diversions. There was only a small take-up from Juventus fans and the match was on TV.

WHO’S UP NEXT

Manchester City vs West Ham (Premier League, Sept. 19)