JUVENTUS 1, MANCHESTER CITY 0
Man City lose to first half Mario Mandzukic goal and drop to second in their Champions League group
Joe Hart taken off late with suspected hamstring or back injury
Manchester City have already qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League but may have to settle for a runners up spot again in their group after another tough away defeat in the Champions League.
Juventus, runners-up in 2015, won 1-0 with an 18th minute goal by Mario Mandzukic who got the better of Nicolas Otamendi before volleying Alex Sandro’s cross past Joe Hart.
Otamendi was one of three changes for City has Gael Clichy and Fernandinho also came in to replace Eliaquim Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling.
City, who were unable to select seven senior injured players, were hit with further injury woe when Joe Hart went off late on with a suspected hamstring injury having already kept the game close with another fine performance.
Hart had already been troubled by a back injury during the week and the loss of the England ‘keeper, to add to seven first teamers who were unable to start for City this week,
Manuel Pellegrini said it was too early to assess the source of Hart’s injury until he had seen a doctor:
“At this moment it’s impossible to know. He has a problem with his hamstring. Maybe it can be from his hamstring, he has been carrying some problems with his back for the last week.
“Tomorrow we will see with the doctor which the problem is.
“I have trust in Willy Caballero if for some reason Hart can’t play.”
The Chilean was disappointed that City hadn’t taken their chances and confirmed that Kompany would be out for two more weeks.
He said: “Both teams played well but I think we were very unlucky to lose this game. The minimum we deserved was a draw but they scored a goal that I think was a foul before Mandzukic finished their play but the referee didn’t whistle.
City were guilty of some glaring misses which could have affected the result but Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, and Sergio Aguero couldn’t breach Gianluigi Buffon’s goal while Fernando at least hit the woodwork.
Aguero was replaced by Sterling who missed a sitter while City lost a lot of impetus after the earlier departure of Fernandinho who had been a driving force in midfield but had been booked.
Pellegrini had already lost Aleksandar Kolarov from his starting line-up at the eleventh hour having already left Pablo Zabaleta in Manchester with City’s other injured senior players – defenders Eliaquim Mangala and Vincent Kompany, midfielders Samir Nasri and David Silva, and striker Wilfried Bony.
Of City’s injury situation, he added: “Vincent has no chance to play this week. He is not running yet and will need at least two weeks more.”
“David Silva is working with the physio in Manchester and we will know more tomorrow.”
City still harbour hopes of topping their group but will need to beat Borussia Monchengladbach and hope that Sevilla do them a favour against Juventus in December.
The more likely result is that City will be confirmed as runners up in December with the the spectre of a possible third encounter in three seasons against Barcelona in the round of 16.