Manchester City is going through one of the most challenging periods of the Guardiola era, and its struggles in the Champions League reflect this decline. On Wednesday, the ‘Citizens’ fell 2-0 to Juventus in Turin, marking their second loss in the group stage. Goals from Serbian Dusan Vlahovic and American Weston McKennie sealed the fate of a team that has shown numerous weaknesses this season.

With just 8 points and sitting 22nd out of the 24 teams that would advance to the knockout stage, City finds itself in a critical situation. Adding to this is their tough upcoming schedule in January, where they will face a struggling PSG in France in what could be a decisive match for both sides. This latest loss is part of an alarming trend for the English club, which has suffered six defeats in its last nine matches across all competitions.

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The match in Turin exposed the vulnerabilities of Manchester City, which failed to impose its characteristic style of play. Although they had a golden opportunity with a shot from Haaland after a pass from De Bruyne, goalkeeper Di Gregorio became the hero for the Italians, saving the English side's clearest chance. From that moment, Juventus grew in confidence, capitalizing on defensive errors from their opponents to open the scoring with a Vlahovic header validated by goal-line technology.

After conceding the first goal, City tried to respond. Their wingers began to create danger, but they were repeatedly thwarted by Juventus’s solid defense and crucial interventions from the goalkeeper. Guardiola’s side lacked sharpness in both penalty areas, which proved costly when McKennie sealed the game with a goal on a quick counterattack, securing the 2-0 victory.

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This result leaves Manchester City in a precarious position, not just because of the defeat but also due to the surrounding context. The team is embroiled in a legal battle over 115 alleged breaches of financial fair play rules and is enduring one of its most critical periods since Guardiola took over. Unlike in previous seasons, the Manchester side seems to have lost the solidity that defined them, a vulnerability that could cost them their place in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Juventus gained valuable momentum with this win. Now, with 11 points, the Italians edge closer to the top spots in the group and strengthen their chances of advancing in the tournament. For City, however, the margin for error is minimal, and they will need to secure a win at the Parc des Princes against PSG to keep their Champions League hopes alive.