Alvarez stars as Man City come back to beat Red Star

7 months ago 117

Julian Alvarez scored 72 seconds after the restart and made it 2-1 after an hour in Manchester

European champions Manchester City came from behind to beat Serbia's Red Star Belgrade as they began the defence of their Champions League title.

It was a deserved victory for City who dominated at Etihad Stadium and created numerous chances.

Red Star caused a stir when Osman Bukari scored with their first shot on the stroke of half-time.

But City regained their composure with a double from Julian Alvarez and a fine strike from Rodri to pick up a victory.

Pep Guardiola's side have not lost at home in the Champions League since September 2018 and have reached the knockout stages in each of the past 10 seasons.

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Manchester City

Squad number31Player nameEderson

Squad number2Player nameWalker

Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias

Squad number6Player nameAké

Squad number21Player nameGómez

Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes

Squad number16Player nameRodri

Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva

Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez

Squad number47Player nameFoden

Squad number9Player nameHaaland

Squad number4Player namePhillips

Squad number11Player nameDoku

Squad number25Player nameAkanji

Squad number52Player nameBobb

Squad number82Player nameLewis

Red Star Belgrade

Squad number18Player nameGlazer

Squad number33Player nameMijailovic

Squad number24Player nameDjiga

Squad number15Player nameDragovic

Squad number23Player nameRodic

Squad number80Player nameMitrovic

Squad number66Player nameHwang In-beom

Squad number6Player nameStamenic

Squad number4Player nameIvanic

Squad number30Player nameBukari

Squad number9Player nameNdiaye

Squad number3Player nameDegenek

Squad number14Player nameOlayinka

Squad number17Player nameKrasso

Squad number20Player nameKangwa

Squad number37Player nameLucic

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-2-3-1

31Ederson2Walker3Rúben DiasBooked at 56minsSubstituted forLewisat 83'minutes6Aké21GómezSubstituted forAkanjiat 58'minutes27Nunes16RodriBooked at 24minsSubstituted forPhillipsat 83'minutes20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forDokuat 44'minutes19Álvarez47FodenSubstituted forBobbat 83'minutes9Haaland

Substitutes

4Phillips11Doku18Ortega24Gvardiol25Akanji33Carson52Bobb82Lewis

Red Star Belgrade

Formation 5-3-2

18Glazer33Mijailovic24Djiga15Dragovic23RodicBooked at 32mins80MitrovicSubstituted forLucicat 78'minutes66Hwang In-beomSubstituted forKangwaat 83'minutes6StamenicBooked at 82mins4IvanicSubstituted forOlayinkaat 68'minutes30BukariSubstituted forDegenekat 83'minutes9NdiayeSubstituted forKrassoat 68'minutes

Substitutes

1Popovic3Degenek5Spajic8Kanga10Katai14Olayinka17Krasso19Milunovic20Kangwa27Vasiljevic37Lucic70Kabic

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester City 3, Red Star Belgrade 1.

Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Red Star Belgrade 1.

Foul by Oscar Bobb (Manchester City).

Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City).

Peter Olayinka (Red Star Belgrade) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Srdjan Mijailovic (Red Star Belgrade).

Attempt saved. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Julián Álvarez with a cross.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Omri Glazer.

Attempt saved. Oscar Bobb (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Matheus Nunes.

Substitution, Red Star Belgrade. Milos Degenek replaces Osman Bukari.

Substitution, Manchester City. Rico Lewis replaces Rúben Dias.

Substitution, Red Star Belgrade. Kings Kangwa replaces Hwang In-Beom.

Substitution, Manchester City. Kalvin Phillips replaces Rodri.

Substitution, Manchester City. Oscar Bobb replaces Phil Foden.

Marko Stamenic (Red Star Belgrade) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Marko Stamenic (Red Star Belgrade).

Attempt blocked. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Julián Álvarez.

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