Manchester City 3-1 Red Star Belgrade: Julian Alvarez double helps European champions come from behind

Manchester City got here from behind and Julian Alvarez scored two second-half objectives as Pep Guardiola’s males started the defence of their Champions League title with a win in opposition to Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.

But City took lower than 90 seconds to stage after the restart as Alvarez raced onto Erling Haaland’s return move, rounded Red Star keeper Omri Glazer with an excellent piece of deception and squeezed the ball dwelling from a good angle whereas nonetheless operating at full velocity.

Glazer spoiled an in any other case very good efficiency 13 minutes later when he went to punch Alvarez’s free-kick away from hazard however as an alternative acquired solely the faintest contact on the ball which didn’t divert it away from the far nook.

Rodri’s final European purpose was the historic effort than secured the trophy in opposition to Inter Milan in June. The Spain midfielder ensured City took a profitable first step in the direction of this season’s remaining at Wembley by scoring their third as he superior unchecked into the Red Star field and guided a exact shot into the underside nook.

The hosts deserved their win – by the ultimate whistle they’d amassed 77% possession and had an unbelievable 37 pictures to Red Star’s three.

A uncommon clean for Haaland

While the wonderful Alvarez might have a good time doubling his tally for the marketing campaign, which now stands at 4, it was a uncommon night time of frustration for Haaland.

With 30 objectives in 26 Champions League video games earlier than this match, it’s honest to say the 23-year-old has taken a liking to this competitors.

His twenty seventh begin within the Champions League is not going to be one which sticks in his reminiscence although.

At numerous factors each the Norwegian and his supervisor have been left shaking their heads at Haaland’s failure to transform any of a rising variety of alternatives he would usually have buried.

It was a strong header that triggered the damaging response from Guardiola as Haaland rose majestically and met the ball powerfully, just for it to come crashing again off the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, Haaland appeared certain to attain with a first-time shot on the flip from Alvarez’s reduce, solely to blaze over.

City have been forward by the point Haaland in all probability sensed it was to not be his night time. Again the Norwegian rose to satisfy a far-post cross a few strides from purpose. This time he took the downward choice. Glazer acquired a hand to it and by some means shovelled the ball on to the put up, the place it was cleared.

Haaland had yet another alternative, one other header, which he didn’t carry on goal.

Red Star desires dashed

In this a part of the world, Glazer is just not a well-liked surname.

For 45 minutes, Red Star Belgrade’s goalkeeper generated the type of irritation amongst City followers that the Manchester United house owners are inclined to set off at Old Trafford.

The Israel worldwide denied Rodri, Nathan Ake and Phil Foden throughout a one-sided opening interval.

Foden specifically, unmarked on the sting of the six-yard space in a fairly central place, ought to have accomplished higher.

Those possibilities fashioned a part of a 22-shot barrage earlier than the break that introduced no reward, essentially the most City have managed within the first half of a Champions League sport with out scoring.

It meant there was incredulity among the many City assist when Bukari ran onto Mirko Ivanic’s by ball and transformed, sparking pandemonium on the Red Star bench after an extended await the video assistant referee to overturn the preliminary offside determination.

By that point Jeremy Doku had changed Bernardo Silva, who didn’t look impressed to depart the motion so early.

When the interval whistle blew, Red Star – and Glazer – have been dreaming of a well-known victory, one thing the Serbian facet haven’t achieved in England since 1973.

The dream did not final lengthy.

Player of the match

ÁlvarezJulián Álvarez

Red Star Belgrade

1. Squad quantity18Player titleGlazer

2. Squad quantity30Player titleBukari

3. Squad quantity66Player titleHwang In-beom

4. Squad quantity9Player titleNdiaye

5. Squad quantity24Player titleDjiga

6. Squad quantity15Player titleDragovic

7. Squad quantity4Player titleIvanic

8. Squad quantity14Player titleOlayinka

9. Squad quantity23Player titleRodic

10. Squad quantity17Player titleKrasso

11. Squad quantity80Player titleMitrovic

12. Squad quantity6Player titleStamenic

13. Squad quantity20Player titleKangwa

14. Squad quantity3Player titleDegenek

15. Squad quantity37Player titleLucic

16. Squad quantity33Player titleMijailovic