Manchester City 3, FK Crvena Zvezda 1
Julian Alvarez scored twice as Manchester City came back from a goal down to beat FK Crvena Zvezda to start their Champions League campaign.
Rodri’s slick finish saw Manchester City complete the comeback in style after a first half goal by Osman Bukari from the team formerly known as Red Star Belgrade to kickstart their Champions League title defence.
With four City players out injured including Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes was handed a full home debut.
Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, and Jeremy Doku made way for Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, and Nunes.
But despite having a record number of shots in the first half they were thwarted by some last ditch defending by the visitors and some wayward finishing.
Omri Glazer had denied City with a string of first half saves as City carved open the Red Star defence regularly leaving Pep Guardiola increasingly frustrated on the sidelines.
Bernardo Silva had picked up a knock and was withdrawn just before half time for Doku but there was enough time for Red Star to take the lead.
City’s offside trap was left flat footed when Osman Bukari was released by Mirko Ivanic and had an empty net and all the time he needed to send the visitors into rapturous applause.
The fact that it was their only shot on goal in the half was remarkable up against City’s 22 shots – seven on target – as they should have scored at least two of the chances they had from the most shots taken by a team in the first half of a Champions League game since records began in 2003/04.
But it took little over a minute for City to get back to parity with a swift move allowing Haaland a free run on goal but he unselfishly slid in Julian Alvarez instead who enticed the Red Star goalkeeper off his line before knocking the ball in past him from 6 yards out.
Kyle Walker thought he had put the Blues into the lead after 53 minutes but he was flagged offside, and 4 minutes later Glazer spilled Alvarez’ long range effort only for Haaland’s rebound chance to go wide.
Manuel Akanji was brought on after 58 minutes for Gomez as Guardiola took the game seriously – and the reshuffle brought dividends.
On the hour mark City won a free kick on the edge of the box and Julian Alvarez stepped up to curl his set piece past Glazer who spoiled all his good work up to them as he weakly flapped at it and only succeeded in fumbling the ball into his own goal.
With City in the lead they upped a gear and Rodri gave City breathing space with a shot from the edge of the area after a slick passing move ending in a Phil Foden layoff in front of the watching England manager Gareth Southgate.
City were comfortable and could make a trip of late substitutions – with Oscar Bobb, Kalvin Phillips, and Rico Lewis coming on to make the points safe.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, FK Crvena Zvezda 1
Ederson: 6. Was left flat footed as Osman Bukari scored for the visitors. Tried some cheeky tricks at the back which won’t have pleased Pep Guardiola.
Kyle Walker: 6. All action captain didn’t get a chance to attack to often.
Ruben Dias: 6. Enjoyed physical challenge but was booked.
Nathan Ake: 7. Guarded well against counter attacks. Forced an excellent save from Omri Glazer with a well directed header towards the bottom corner. Moved to left back after Manuel Akanji came on.
Sergio Gomez: 6. Unexpected start at left back. His slip allowed a Red Star counter attack while he had a chance blocked. Was taken off in the second half as City looked to stiffen up defence.
Rodri: 8. Had a great chance saved by Omri Glazer after Osman Bukari failed to get the ball. Then he scored another long range strike to make the points safe.
Matheus Nunes: 7. Full debut – kept it simple and supported Rodri in midfield as well as going forward. Got into good positions and his close quarters control was evident.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Switched to the right flank and went close a few times – taken off before the end of the first half – looked like he picked up an injury.
Julian Alvarez: 9. Had several shots saved from the edge of the area, not as composed as Kevin De Bruyne on the ball but scored two great goals to dig City out of a hole and also hit the side netting as City went for the kill. Almost set up Haaland with a cutback late on.
Phil Foden: 7. Came into midfield from his nominal left flank role where he was more creative, not afraid of shooting but fluffed an overhead kick. Almost set up an early Erling Haaland goal with a lofted ball into the area and was denied at close range with a header by Omri Glazer. Set up Rodri’s goal.
Erling Haaland: 7. Misdirected an early header and had another effort come off the crossbar, sent another shot wide. Set up Julian Alvarez for the equaliser and had another header saved by Omri Glazer as City piled the pressure on but it was not his night.
Jeremy Doku (on for Bernardo Silva, 44): 6. Came on to stretch the right flank. Slightly wayward at times but switched to the left flank where he looked a more comfortable. Had a shot saved as City piled on the pressure.
Manuel Akanji (on for Sergio Gomez, 58): 6. On to bolster City’s defence.
Oscar Bobb (on for Phil Foden, 83): Champions League debut. No time to mark.
Kalvin Phillips (on for Rodri, 83): No time to mark. Cheered by the crowd when he came on and seems to have adopted the Raheem Sterling song.
Rico Lewis (on for Ruben Dias, 83): No time to mark
GOALS – Man City 3, FK Crvena Zvezda 1
Man City 0, FK Crvena Zvezda 1: 45. Osman Bukari beat the offside trap and scored into the empty net after racing clear following a ball from Mirko Ivanic which put him clean through.
Man City 1, FK Crvena Zvezda 1: 47. Julian Alvarez was fleet of foot and dinked the ball past the committed Omri Glazer who had come off his line from 6 yards out after Erling Haaland opted to slide him through.
Man City 2, FK Crvena Zvezda 1: 60. Julian Alvarez’ free kick from the left was fumbled into his own goal by Omri Glazer as he tried to punch the ball away.
Man City 3, FK Crvena Zvezda 1: 73. Rodri stroked the ball home from the edge of the box after a slick passing move ending in a layoff by Phil Foden to set up Rodri.
MATCH STATS – Man City 3, FK Crvena Zvezda 1
Man City: Ederson, Walker (C), Dias (Lewis 83), Ake, Gomez (Akanji 58), Rodri (Phillips 83), Nunes, Bernardo Silva (Doku 44), Alvarez, Foden (Bobb 83), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Gvardiol
Booked: Rodri 24 (foul on Osman Bukari), Dias
Goals: Alvarez 47, 60; Rodri 73
FK Crvena Zvezda: Glazer, Mijalovic, Djiga, Dragovic (C), Rodic, Hwang (Kangwa 83), Stamenic, Bukari (Degenek 83), Ivanic (Olayinka 68), S Mitrovic (Lucic 77), Ndiaye (Krasso 68)
FK Crvena Zvezda Subs not used: Popovic, Vasiljevic, Spajic, Kanga, Katal, Milunovic, Kabic
Booked: Rodic, Stamenic 82 (foul on Jeremy Doku)
Goal: Bukari 45
Referee: Joao Pinheiro
Attendance: 50,204