Manchester City has encountered further difficulties in the Champions League following a 2-0 defeat against Juventus on Wednesday, extending a disappointing streak for the English champions.
The loss has seen City drop to 22nd in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 teams able to progress to the next round. Initially, qualification seemed assured for a team that was crowned European champion in 2023 and has claimed the Premier League title four years in a row. However, under manager Pep Guardiola, the squad is struggling with injuries and a diminishing sense of confidence among the players.
In their last ten matches across all competitions, City has only managed a single victory. Juventus’ goals from Dušan Vlahovi? and Weston McKennie marked another setback for City and revitalized Juventus’ hopes of advancing in the tournament. City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan pointed out the issues facing his team, labeling it a “mental issue.” He added, “Opponents are able to break our rhythm with the smallest of things,” noting that it doesn’t take much to significantly impact the team’s performance at present.
In contrast, Barcelona moved into second place in the standings, trailing only Liverpool, after a narrow 3-2 victory against Borussia Dortmund. Raphinha and Ferran Torres, the latter scoring twice, led the charge for Barcelona. Arsenal also found success, defeating Monaco 3-0, with Bukayo Saka netting two goals, lifting Arsenal into third place, thereby becoming the highest of six teams on 13 points. The top eight teams earn automatic places in the last 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter into a two-legged playoff.
For City, the situation is critical as they have two matches left to salvage their Champions League hopes, with the first being against Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently in 25th place, just one spot from qualification. Juventus took the lead in the 53rd minute when Vlahovi?’s header made its way past City goalkeeper Ederson, who could only manage a weak parry. McKennie then secured the victory with a volley from a cross by Timothy Weah, lifting Juventus to 14th in the standings.
Ferran Torres emerged as a crucial player for Barcelona, coming off the bench to help his team secure their fifth victory in six games while pushing Dortmund out of the top eight. Torres replaced Robert Lewandowski in the 71st minute and scored just four minutes later, converting a rebound from Dani Olmo’s shot. Although Serhou Guirassy equalized later in the match, Torres struck again in the 85th minute, sealing the win for Barcelona. Raphinha had opened the scoring, and Guirassy’s penalty equalized before the drama unfolded. Both players now sit second in the scoring charts, tied on six goals each, behind Lewandowski’s seven.
Arsenal’s impressive form continued as they secured their third consecutive home win without conceding any goals. Saka’s two goals, along with a late goal from substitute Kai Havertz, led to a comprehensive victory over Monaco. Arsenal now leads Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Brest, and Lille based on goal difference. Lille managed to claim a 3-2 victory at home against Sturm Graz.
Meanwhile, Manchester City is missing forward Julian Alvarez, who showcased his skills by scoring a remarkable curling goal to help Atletico Madrid defeat Slovan Bratislava 3-1 and highlight what City lost after his departure. Alvarez has netted 12 goals this season, four of which are from the Champions League. Antoine Griezmann contributed two goals for Atletico as they climbed up to 11th place following their 10th consecutive win across all competitions.
In another emotional moment, Lukasz Lakomy of Young Boys honored his grieving teammate Meschack Elia by displaying his jersey after scoring against Stuttgart. This gesture paid tribute to Elia after the tragic loss of his son. Elia was absent from the game to support his family in Congo. Both teams donned black armbands, and a moment of silence was observed prior to the match, which ended in a 5-1 victory for Stuttgart.
Tammy Abraham scored a late winning goal in the 87th minute as AC Milan edged Red Star Belgrade 2-1, closing the gap to the top eight. Milan faced challenges as key players Alvaro Morata and Ruben Loftus-Cheek exited the match due to muscle injuries in the first half. In other matches, Benfica’s five-match winning streak came to an end as they drew 0-0 against Bologna, while Feyenoord triumphed with a 4-2 win against Sparta Prague.
