Juventus v Manchester City – UEFA Champions League latest as Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie put more misery on visitors

Juventus inflicted further misery on Manchester City by beating the Premier League champions 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie.

Both sides came into the game needing a victory to keep any hopes of a top-eight finish alive.

City tested their Italian hosts and Kevin De Bruyne slid Erling Haaland through on goal during the first half only for goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to deny the marksman.

The young Juventus side start to believe an upset was on the card and some hesitant defender allowed Vlahovic to score the opener, despite goalkeeper Ederson trying his best to stop the ball crossing the line.

City continued to dominate possession without opening up the Juventus defence and were throwing extra men forward in search of an equaliser.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side were hit on the break again as substitute Timothy Weah found fellow American replacement Weston McKennie unmarked inside the box to net.

The Christmas break in Champions League football will allow Guardiola to regroup his side before a must-win match at PSG before hosting Club Brugge in their final group match.

Another defeat at PSG could result in City exiting the Champions League before the knockout stages.

In the immediate future City have the stern test of a Manchester derby on Sunday.

Rio Ferdinand has torn into Manchester City and says that they have never been ‘this bad’ under Pep Guardiola.

 "We haven't seen a Pep Guardiola side ever be this bad,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports. “He's got to find a way of galvanising this team. It doesn't matter what you've done, anyone can lose confidence and it can really hurt performance and outcomes.

“City fans will be disappointed and Pep and his players will want to improve this, but this is something for young players to look at and see.

“Players that are put on a pedestal can crack and creak at moments like this. The best players can feel like this.

“There's a positive for other people to take, but for City there's a lot of work behind the scenes now.

“You're gonna find out a lot about the players now. It's a nice ride when it's going well, but who's going to help get you back to normality when it's not going well? Pep will learn a lot about his players."

That’s full-time and Manchester City are beaten again.

Lewis’ effort looked to have hit the hand of Gati. However, the referee was not convinced and neither was VAR

Grealish is take off for Nunes 

Gatti is shielding the ball from Silva while his goalkeeper picks it up. Silva takes offence to the moves and gives him a big shove.

Moments earlier Di Gregorio was booked for Juventus

It’s another change for the hosts with Luiz on for Vlahovic; Yildiz is replaced by Mbangula

A sloppy and frustrated foul by Grealish after the ball has gone.

Owen Hargreaves said that City were left exposed with ‘nobody’ in midfield as Juventus capitalised with a second goal.

He told TNT Sports: "Nobody in central midfield, look at the space. What a ball from Weah and a brilliant take from Weston McKennie.

“Again no pressure on the ball, nobody marking McKennie, and the two Americans combine.

“That was the fear when you're pushing for goal, you leave space on the counter. Credit to Thiago Motta, he made the subs and they combine for the goal. That's what City need to do, shake it up."

Pep makes his first change of the match as Savinho comes on for Doku

City are hit on the break with substitute Weah crossing for fellow replacement McKennie who is left unmarked inside the box and fires home

The City star keeps trying his luck at goal, but that effort was never going to test goalkeeper Di Gregorio

McKennie replaces Thuram; and Conceicao goes off for Weah

Di Gregorio makes it look a spectacular save as he picks stretches to tip over Gundogan’s effort. However, the City midfielder could have hit that with more power.

A glimmer of space opens up for De Bruyne who rifles his effort just wide of the post. Applause from Pep, but not the equaliser City needed.

City are really starting to test their hosts and Doku sends an inviting cross across the face of the box. However, nobody is on hand to turn it home.

Grealish has the ball glued to his boot as he takes it on the edge of the box. He plays a lovely ball to Silva who sees his left footed effort blocked.

Owen Hargreaves said that a lack of pressure on the ball from the City defence allowed Vlahovic to score the opener.

He said: "There's no pressure on the ball whatsoever. I thought Ederson did so well initially. It's a brilliant reaction - he's so unlucky. It just falls over the line.

“Like the boys mentioned before he [Vlahovic] is a goal scorer, he just needs a bit of service. That's what Erling Haaland needs at the other end of the pitch. He's their best player by an absolute mile. He's a great target man, good in the air, presence and size."

Juventus come forward and Gatti sends a flying volley which forces Ederson to save. The resulting cross from Yildiz finds the head of Vlahovic.

Despite the best efforts of Ederson and the covering defender the ball is judged to have gone over the goal-line.

An excellent run away from his marker by De Bruyne who picked out Gundogan. However, the midfielder’s effort lacked power and placement and was easily blocked.