Juventus beats Man City in Champions League meet

Juventus came from behind to hand Manchester City their first defeat this season as Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata gave the Italian champions an opening 2-1 win in Group D of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Premier League leaders City were fortunate to go ahead after 57 minutes when Vincent Kompany, climbing all over Giorgio Chiellini, saw the defender head an own goal as the home skipper wheeled away to celebrate instead of being punished for a foul.

But Juve pulled level in the 70th minute when Mandzukic touched the ball in off the post after midfielder Paul Pogba sent in a high cross from the left.

It was the first goal City had conceded after five domestic league wins so far this term, but worse followed when Morata scored with a 20-metre left-foot curler in the 81st minute.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini thought his team had played the better football.

“I think it was a strange game, I do not think we deserved to lose this game, we played better than Juventus and had three clear chances to score, (Gianluigi) Buffon made good saves and we were unlucky, especially their first goal. We played against a strong team, we had not many options, but we controlled the game and I don’t remember Juventus creating any chances close to our goal,” said Pellegrini.

He also said people should not read too much into the loss.

“I don’t think we need to learn from other years. The last two seasons we also started by losing the first games and both seasons we qualified for the next stage. We are just starting, but it was a game we did not want to lose here at home as it is three very important points, but this stage the group is just starting. I repeat in the last two seasons we also started with a loss,” said the Manchester City boss.

Juve’s Massimiliano Allegri was pleased and implied his “new” team will get even better.

“First I have to say ‘well done’ to the boys, they played a really good game against an excellent team with amazing players. It is a game that has been played in a difficult moment for us, having lost two games in the league; we did not deserve to, but that is the reality. This was our first game in the Champions League and it is not easy to win here. The players played extremely well and the defence was disciplined and we played well in attack as well.

“We were compact even when we were losing 1-0. At that point, (Gianluigi) Buffon pulled off a miraculous save and when we scored we grew into the game. It is a new team and we have only been training together for a week, so bear that in mind then, what we did tonight was really good,” said Allegri.