"We are quite disappointed. It was a 50-50 game and we had a lot more chances than them but we were not clinical.”
, Yaya Toure – 25/11/2015.
A new position for City fans to be in this; with the team heading to Turin already guaranteed a place in the knock-out round of the Champions League. In what was originally labelled another group of death, Pellegrini’s men were one victory away from finishing top. This seemed at odds with form, a) following the embarrassment of Saturday evening, b) this being the toughest away fixture of the campaign so far, and c) a bench looking extremely lightweight due to injuries. Yet the general consensus seemed to be that City could beat Juve in their own back yard.
If you have read previous blog entry’s you’ll notice the theme for these occasions has been for City to press early, and last night was no exception. KDB creating the most likely first half chance on 15' out on the left hand-side, whipping a cross into the box for Yaya whose tangle with Chiellini led to the ball falling to Fernandinho at the penalty spot, only for the Brazilian to cannon his effort high and wide from what should have been first blood, and reward for City’s intent in the first 15.
Juve were however more than lively themselves. A certain Paul Pogba definitely lived up to the suggested price tag set by Juventus, showing power and pace from midfield, and also the flair to cause the City defence serious problems. On 18', following the breakdown of a break by City, Pogba skipped passed DeBruyne and spread the play to the Juventus full-back Alex Sandro who put in a sumptuous cross into Mandzukic, who made Otamendi look like he was 3 feet tall; outmuscling the centre half to then easily stroke his volley past Joe Hart. Despite City’s intent and possession, we were once again behind in the Champions League.
City continued to dominate possession in the first half, but sadly missed the class of David Silva finding pockets of space and creating something out of nothing, and never looked like really troubling Buffon. When Juventus did get the ball they impressively moved up the pitch with pace and guile. On 27' that guile almost saw them double their lead, with a lofted pass out to the right wing cushioned into the path of a suddenly in form Mandzukic, who connected sweetly on the half volley. Luckily ‘Mr Champions League’ Joe Hart instinctively dove low to his left to palm the Croat’s effort wide. Lots of possession, but a mixture of a rusty attack and a nervy back four meant City never looked truly comfortable throughout the game.
Juventus seemed to have taken a leaf out of City’s playbook against Liverpool and consistently gave the ball away in dangerous areas, showing real lack of pass appreciation. The most dangerous coming just before half time with Marchisio playing a hospital pass back, which Aguero snuffed out quickly but took the ball slightly too wide while under pressure by the ever impressive Buffon, who closed him down and ushered the ball out for a corner. While only a half chance, a chance that a fully fit, in form Aguero would have made better use of. City head into the break down by one but by no means out of the match.
The second half was managed (frustratingly) very well by The Old Lady, with a combination of diving by Dybala amongst others, and perfectly timed substitutions really taking the sting out of the game. Both sides were unlucky in the first ten minutes of the second half, with the post denying a Fernando header from a corner with Yaya unable to poke the ball past Buffon. Two minutes later the City defence were split by a beautifully weighted pass by Bonucci finding the newly introduced Morata, with Otamendi caught in no-man’s land. Morata attempting to lift the ball over Joe Hart into the far corner of the net, but the ball drifting wide saw an oncoming Sturaro stretch to meet it only for his touch to ricochet off the outside of the post.
Due to the card happy referee, Fernandinho made way for Delph on 60’ who looked full of energy when he came on. With Aguero only just back into the fold, he also made way on 69’ for Raheem Sterling, with KDB now playing a more central role in front of Yaya. Unfortunately this did not have the same effect as against Sevilla. Juventus tried, as you would expect any Italian side, to defend their lead and City struggled to find that cutting edge to break down the Italian banks of four.
Arguably City’s best chance to level the score came on 79’ when KDB broke down the right hand side and fizzed the ball across the Italian side’s six-yard box only for Sterling to fluff his lines and hit his left footed shot against Barzagli and the ball trickled out for a corner. A final talking point would have to be Joe Hart’s departure on the 81’ being another worrying addition to City’s injury ridden season.
Twitter after the defeat, as it is wont to do, seemed to go into a downward spiral of blame and conspiracy. However, when taken into context, this was a game that on any other day City would have won comfortably. Injuries to Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Kompany will always impact any team and if City had that final piece of the jigsaw I have no doubt could well have been top of the group. With all things considered this was the hardest away fixture, with a chopped and changed starting eleven, and no fully fit recognised striker. If we can get all the squad back come spring I think City are better equipped than ever to take on the inevitable Barcelona or Bayern in the round of 16… Though winning may be another matter.
@PatrickElano
Etihad Stadium Manchester
