Manchester City, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, faced a stern test in their title defense as they hosted Crvena Zvezda at the Etihad Stadium. The visitors from Belgrade stunned the home crowd by taking the lead just before halftime in a shock turn of events. Despite City’s dominance in the first half, it was Osman Bukari who capitalized on a defensive lapse to put Crvena Zvezda ahead.
The game was marked by some changes in Manchester City’s lineup, with manager Pep Guardiola opting to introduce fringe players. These changes seemed to disrupt City’s usual pace and rhythm, leading to a challenging first half. Follow your favourite Champions League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
City’s star players, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, squandered excellent opportunities in the opening period, and their wastefulness came back to haunt them when Osman Bukari exploited an offside trap to score just before halftime, following a VAR review.
However, the second half saw a remarkable turnaround for the defending champions. Julian Alvarez swiftly leveled the score only two minutes after the break, thanks to some clever link-up play with Erling Haaland. Then, on the hour mark, a surprising error from Omri Glazer gifted Alvarez his second goal from what appeared to be a harmless free-kick. It was a cruel twist of fate for Glazer, who had put up a superb performance in the first half to keep City at bay.
With the score now in their favor, City pushed forward in search of more goals. Last season’s Champions League hero, Rodri, sealed the victory with a beautifully curled effort.
While City dominated the second half, the first period was marked by complacency and a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. Crvena Zvezda, on the other hand, made the most of their chances and took a surprising lead. This game served as a reminder that even for a team as dominant as City, arrogance and internal errors can pose significant threats.
Julian Alvarez, with his decisive contributions, earned the title of “Player of the Match.” Despite an early error, Omri Glazer had looked poised to be the standout player, but Alvarez stepped up when it mattered most. The Argentine forward is taking on more responsibility as he aims to shine outside Erling Haaland’s shadow.
Manchester City’s journey to defend their UEFA Champions League title has begun with a comeback victory, but they will need to maintain focus and consistency as the competition progresses. Get the latest updates from the Champions League only on Nextbet Sports.
