Manchester City’s Champions League Hopes in Jeopardy and Woe Deepens following Defeat to Juventus, Sparking Crisis Ahead of Manchester Derby.
Manchester City’s troubled run continued on Wednesday night as they were beaten 2-0 by Juventus, a result that has severely dented their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The home side took control in the second half, with Dusan Vlahovic’s header and Weston McKennie’s volley securing all three points for Juventus.
Vlahovic’s header, which squirmed over the line after a scramble in the box, came shortly after the break. McKennie sealed the win with a clinical volley from a Timothy Weah cross, as City failed to respond under pressure.
For Manchester City, the defeat marked their seventh loss in their last 10 games across all competitions.
Their only win in that stretch came in early December against Nottingham Forest, but they have since struggled to find form, drawing against Crystal Palace before this disappointing loss in Turin.
The defeat leaves City in 22nd place in the Champions League group stage with only two games remaining.
They are just one point ahead of PSG in 25th, and with crucial away matches against PSG on January 22 and home to Club Brugge a week later, their qualification hopes now hang by a thread.
Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will enter the play-offs, but City’s poor form has raised serious questions about their ability to progress.
City’s performance against Juventus was marked by a lack of urgency and creativity. While they dominated possession, they struggled to create meaningful chances.
Their first shot on target didn’t come until just before half-time, when Erling Haaland’s effort was saved by Juventus goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio. In contrast, Juventus were clinical when it mattered, exploiting City’s defensive lapses.
The defeat also raises concerns ahead of Sunday’s much-anticipated Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s recent performances have shown little resemblance to the dominant force they were in previous seasons, and with their Champions League future in jeopardy, manager Pep Guardiola faces growing pressure to turn things around quickly.
