MAN CITY 1, JUVENTUS 2
Manchester City’s Champions League hoodoo struck again as they were beaten at home by Juventus, last season’s beaten finalists.
It was a disappointing night as City succumbed to two late goals from the Italians after Giorgio Chiellini’s own goal had given them the lead.
And it was a case of the Champions League curse striking again as City have now won only two of their last 11 games in the competition.
It was City’s first defeat of the season as they have a 100-per-cent record in the Premier League while Joe Hart was beaten for the first time in 636 minutes, a run stretching back to last season.
And Juve, who have picked up only one point from their first three games in Serie A, produced a performance which belied their lowly league standing in their domestic league.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed, but not disheartened saying: “It was a strange game. We didn’t deserve to lose.
“We controlled the game, had chances to score, but were denied by good saves. We were also unlucky with their first goal.
“But when you have chances, you must score against a strong side like Juve.”
And Pellegrini refused to blamed the absence of Sergio Aguero from the starting line up for the defeat.
“The result today was not just about one player, though Sergio is an important player,” he said.
Pellegrini added that City don’t need to learn from other seasons explaining they lost their opening game for each of the last two seasons, but that did not stop them qualifying.
“You never want to start with a loss at home, and it is not ideal, but we are only just starting and we still have 15 points to play for. It doesn’t mean we are not going to qualify.”
City had striker Aguero, who hurt his knee at Crystal Palace on Saturday, only fit enough to be on the bench, but there was still no place for new £54m signing Kevin De Bruyne who was again a substitute as was costly defender Nicolas Otamendi .
David Silva and Raheem Sterling, who missed Saturday’s win at Crystal Palace with minor knocks, returned as did Samir Nasri while Jesus Navas made way for him
Juventus were without three of their big hitters from the side which reached last year’s final with Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal no longer at the club.
However, the old lady has strengthened its side capturing the likes of Mario Mandzukic and Juan Cuadrado, the winger who is on loan from Chelsea.
And their side still included the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Alvaro Morato, Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra who was returning to Manchester having been an Old Trafford favourite.
This was only the third time the two teams had met in European competition, but the first in the Champions League.
City would have taken a second minute lead but for the brilliance of 37-year-old Buffon to deny Sterling who had been put clear by Fernandinho following a storming run.
Juve showed how dangerous they are on the break as Pogba headed home a Cuadrado cross only for the effort to be ruled out through Alvaro Morata being offside.
And they were also a threat from free kicks with Hernanes seeing one long-range strike whistle just past the upright while Morata and Cuadrado also fired not far wide.
Juve were certainly stifling and frustrating City, though Wilfried Bony created a great chance for himself only to fire disappointingly over.
City’s best chance of the half came in the 40th minute, a terrific shot on the run from 30 yards by Fernandinho that flew a couple of feet wide.
There was controversy when City took a 57th minute lead as Juve claimed Vincent Kompany held down Chiellini and that was responsible for him heading David Silva’s corner past Buffon. And replays showed they had justification with their complaints.
City would have gone 2-0 ahead minutes later but for Buffon’s brilliance as he made a super double save to deny Sterling and also keep out Silva’s follow-up shot.
Juve were forced to take more risks and Mandzukic forced a decent save from Hart who prevented the Italians from equalising.
And they were rewarded with an equaliser in the 70th minute when Pogba played a delightful ball in from the left which eluded Eliaquim Mangala enabling Mandzukic to fire home in off the upright.
City’s immediate response was to take off Sterling and give a home debut to De Bruyne and minutes later had to withdraw Kompany who had a calf injury and hand Otamendi also his first appearance at the Etihad.
And it got better for Juve who snatched an 81st minute lead after a lucky ricochet off Aleksandar Kolarov to let in Morata who curled in a delightful shot from the edge of the box. Replays showed what an exquisite strike it was.
It called for desperate measures and Pellegrini had no choice but to throw on Aguero with seven minutes remaining.
City came within a whisker of equalising with two minutes left when Buffon made a stunning save to keep out a trademark long-range effort from Yaya Toure, but it was a night that belonged to Juve as they celebrated at the final as though they had won the competition.