Manchester City’s Champions League credentials—or lack thereof—were again under the microscope against Juventus as Manuel Pellegrini’s side looked to put a difficult weekend behind them.
This was slightly better than the 4-1 demolition at the hands of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but it was still an evening that truly exposed the limitations of a City side that still find it hard to assert themselves against the continent’s finest.
Heading into this year’s competition, City will have been desperate to avoid finishing second in the pool and facing one of the top seeds in the second round.
However, that is exactly the prospect that faces them following Juve’s triumph, with the Italian side now on 11 points and City two behind on nine with one more game to play.
Against a Juve side struggling in Serie A (at least until recently) this can be considered a poor return from Pellegrini’s side.
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They fell behind in the 18th minute when Mario Mandzukic beat Joe Hart after turning in a superb cross from Alex Sandro.
Both Fernando and Raheem Sterling had gilt-edged chances to even the contest, but neither man was able to find the net and keep the Citizens in control of the group.