By The Associated Press’s Steve Douglas
Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Juventus on Wednesday further exacerbated their Champions League woes, marking the most recent in a string of unconscionable awful performances for the struggling English champions.
Only the top 24 teams advanced, and City fell to 22nd in the 36-team standings. Before the season began, advancing to the next stage of the new format seemed inevitable for a side that had won the last four Premier League titles and was the 2023 European champion. However, that is no longer the case as City manager Pep Guardiola struggles with injuries and his players’ seeming lack of faith.
In all competitions, City has only won once in their last ten games. Goals from Weston McKennie and Duan Vlahovi caused the most recent loss and sparked Juventus’ chances of qualifying.
Ilkay Gundogan, a midfielder for City, called the team’s issue a mental one.
According to Gundogan, opponents can disrupt our flow with the tiniest of things. Even though they don’t have to do anything, it already has a significant impact on us.
Barcelona’s 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund propelled them into second position in the league rankings, behind Liverpool, and ensured their advancement. Ferran Torres and Raphinha each scored two goals for Barcelona.
Bukayo Saka’s two goals helped Arsenal defeat Monaco 3-0, putting them in third position and ahead of six other clubs with 13 points.
The clubs ranked No. 9–24 enter a two-leg playoff, while the top eight advance straight to the round of 16.
Danger for City
City needs to defeat Paris Saint-Germain, another struggling powerhouse in 25th place, one spot outside of the qualifying spots, in the first of two games to salvage its struggling Champions League season.
With a powerful header aimed directly at City goalkeeper Ederson, who was only able to divert the ball over his own line, Vlahovi gave Juventus the lead in the 53rd minute. Juve won thanks to two American substitutes, including McKennie, who volleyed home from Timothy Weah’s cross.
Juventus rose to 14th position.
Super-sub Torres
Dortmund, the runner-up from the previous season, was forced out of the top eight after Ferran Torres came off the bench to lead Barcelona to their fifth victory in six games.
Robert Lewandowski, who had a quiet game against his old team, was replaced by Torres in the 71st minute. Four minutes later, Torres scored from the rebound of a strike by Dani Olmo.
During the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona at Signal-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Serhou Guirassy of Dortmund celebrates his team’s first goal with teammates. (Martin Meissner/AP Photo) AP
The score was tied at 2-2 after Serhou Guirassy’s second goal of the match, but Torres scored again in the 85th minute after a counterattack by Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona took the lead thanks to Raphinha, and Guirassy equalized from the penalty spot. After Lewandowski’s competition-high seven goals, Raphinha and Guirassy are tied for second place on the scoring chart with six goals each.
Home comforts for Arsenal
Saka scored goals in the 34th and 78th minutes and put in a shot that was converted into the net by substitute Kai Havertz in the 88th, giving Arsenal their third consecutive league-stage home victory without giving up.
On goal differential, Arsenal leads Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Brest, and Lille. On Wednesday, Lille defeated Sturm Graz 3-2 at home.
In-form Alvarez
Julian Alvarez would be a huge asset to Man City right now.
After being sold for over $100 million in August, the Argentina striker helped Atletico Madrid defeat Slovan Bratislava 3-1 with a spectacular curling shot to open the scoring. It served as a timely reminder of what City is without. Four of Alvarez’s 12 goals this season have come in the Champions League.
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Atletico Madrid and Slovan Bratislava play a Champions League opening phase soccer match at Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, with Antoine Griezmann scoring the team’s third goal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez for AP)
After a tenth consecutive victory in all competitions, Atletico Madrid moved up to 11th place thanks to two goals from Antoine Griezmann at Metropolitano Stadium.
Honoring a departed teammate
Lukasz Lakomy went to the sideline and held up teammate Meschack Elia’s jersey as people crowded around him after he gave Young Boys the lead against Stuttgart.
Following Elia’s son’s untimely death this week following a brief illness, the gesture served as a tribute. Elia wasn’t playing because he was traveling to be with his family in his native Congo, where his kid passed away.
Before the match, which Stuttgart won 5-1, there was a moment of silence and both teams wore black armbands.
Late winner
AC Milan defeated Red Star Belgrade 2-1, with Tammy Abraham scoring the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to pull one point out of the top eight. In the first half, Milan lost Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alvaro Morata to muscular ailments.
Feyenoord defeated Sparta Prague 4-2, while Benfica drew 0-0 at home against Bologna to stop their five-game winning streak.
The Twitter account of Steve Douglas is https://twitter.com/sdouglas80.
https://apnews.com/hub/soccer is the AP soccer website.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!