Man City vs Red Star Belgrade LIVE: Champions League result as Julian Alvarez hits double in comeback win
Man City 3-1 Red Star Belgrade: Alvarez scored twice after half time as the holders came from behind to begin their Champions League defence with three points
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Your support makes all the difference.Holders Manchester City recovered from falling a goal behind to outclass Red Star Belgrade 3-1 in their Group G opener with Julian Alvarez scoring twice at The Etihad.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated the opening period but were guilty of wayward finishing and trailed to a sucker-punch just before halftime as Osman Bukari broke clear to finish in style.
City began the game on a 26-match unbeaten run in Champions League home games and normal service was resumed almost immediately after the restart as Alvarez levelled after combining with Erling Haaland.
A misjudgement by Red Star keeper Omri Glazer allowed an Alvarez cross to go into the net on the hour and Rodri made it 3-1 with a clinical finish after 73 minutes as City made it 19 home wins in succession in all competitions.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
25 mins: Off the crossbar! Julian Alverez feeds the ball across to Sergio Gomez who slips Phil Foden into the left side of the box. He hangs a lofted pass over to Erling Haaland who leaps high and nods his effort right into the crossbar!
The ball rebounds safely away and Haaland cannot believe he’s missed that chance.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
24 mins: Rodri goes in the book for a high lunging tackle in the middle of the pitch. It’s sloppy from the midfielder who seems to want to get himself into the game.
He’s buzzing with energy tonight but will need to be a little wary now.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
21 mins: The Red Star fans are making a lot of noise early on here trying to encourage their team. City are dominating possession and it feels like a matter of time before they open the scoring.
Foden drills a pass into the box for Nunes but he can’t shift it out from under his own feet and any chance of getting a shot away goes begging.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
18 mins: A wonderfully threaded pass from Kyle Walker feeds Matheus Nunes into the Red Star box. His first touch isn’t great which allows Aleksandar Dragovic to sweep across and punt the ball out of play.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
15 mins: Save! Rodri looks hungry to attack tonight. His press is superb and he wins the ball on the edge of the penalty area. A shift to the right takes him wide of Srdjan Mijailovic before he unleashes a powerful strike at goal.
Omri Glazer holds his ground and pushes the ball wide of the far post with a solid right hand. Good save!
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
12 mins: Chance! Phil Foden kickstarts another move with a driving run through the middle of the pitch before sending Erling Haaland a little wide with a pass into the left side of the box.
Haaland recovers the ball and sends it back to Julian Alvarez who chips a forward pass to Foden but his overhead kick skews wide of the target.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
9 mins: Shot! Phil Foden drifts into the middle for Man City and receives the ball in space. He rolls it onto his left foot and shoots winning a corner when his effort is deflected out for a corner kick.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
6 mins: Nunes is making his first start for Manchester City tonight and is trying to impress. He brings the ball down the right side of the pitch with some help from Kyle Walker before curling a pacey ball in towards Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez can’t control the pass and it skips through to Omri Glazer in Red Star’s goal.
Man City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
3 mins: Rodri moves into an attacking position as he times a nice run into the box, Phil Foden as the ball on the left side and flicks it to him but Rodri’s cutback is turned behind for a corner.
The set piece is whipped into the box and finds Matheus Nunes who punts a headed effort well over the goal.
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