Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scored as Juventus secured a sensational 2-0 win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The victory deals a significant blow to the English champions’ hopes in Europe’s elite competition.
After a goalless first half, Vlahovic broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Kenan Yildiz delivered a precise cross, and Vlahovic’s header narrowly crossed the line after City goalkeeper Ederson couldn’t keep it out, confirmed by goal-line technology.
“The whole team played an excellent match. We prepared well and did everything we had to do,” Vlahovic told reporters. “The result is amazing and can give us a great boost for the rest of the season.”
Manchester City ramped up the pressure in search of an equalizer, but Juventus capitalized on the counterattack. In the 75th minute, Weston McKennie expertly volleyed Timothy Weah’s cross into the net, doubling the lead.
City’s midfielder Ilkay Gundogan acknowledged the team’s struggles. “Confidence is a big part of it; obviously, it’s a mental issue as well. At the crucial moment right now, we are doing the wrong things,” he told Amazon Prime.
Manager Pep Guardiola commented on the difficulty of breaking down Juventus’s defense. “We did it really, really well. But Italian teams defend so deep and so compact; it is not easy. They are masters of these kinds of situations,” he said.
With two games remaining in the group stage, Juventus moves up in the standings, while Manchester City faces the risk of elimination from the competition. City will look to bounce back when they host Manchester United in the Premier League on December 16.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
