Juventus secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), extending their unbeaten streak against the English champions to six matches. The win also revitalizes Juve’s campaign, moving them to 13th place in the standings, just two points off the top eight.
The opening half was a tense affair, with Juventus managing the first notable attempt through Kenan Yıldız, whose long-range shot narrowly missed the bottom corner. Yıldız also set up Dušan Vlahović, but the Serbian striker couldn’t capitalize.
City eventually found their rhythm, with chances falling to Erling Haaland, but Juventus defenders Manuel Locatelli and goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio expertly denied the Norwegian.
Juventus broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Dušan Vlahović rose above Joško Gvardiol to head the ball over Ederson, aided by a deflection off the crossbar.
City pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but their attempts were thwarted by Juve’s resolute defense and a stellar performance by Michele Di Gregorio, who denied İlkay Gündoğan with a spectacular save.
In the 85th minute, Juventus doubled their lead with a sensational volley from Weston McKennie, set up by a pinpoint cross from fellow American Timothy Weah, sealing the victory for the Bianconeri.
Key Performers:
- Juventus:
- Dušan Vlahović: Goal and aerial dominance.
- Michele Di Gregorio: Multiple key saves.
- Weston McKennie: Stunning late goal.
- Manchester City:
- Kevin De Bruyne: Creative spark, though opportunities went unconverted.
Juventus’ win ends a five-match winless run across all competitions, providing a much-needed boost as they push for a top-eight finish in the UCL standings. In stark contrast, Manchester City’s slump continues, with only one win in their last 10 games leaving them in 22nd place, perilously close to the bottom three.
Pep Guardiola’s side faces mounting pressure to regain form, while Juventus will look to build on this momentum to keep their UCL hopes alive.
