City's hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League took a major hit with their 2-0 defeat to Juventus. Despite a strong performance in the first half, City were unable to capitalise on their opportunities, and ultimately fell to a well-oiled Juventus side. City now sit in 22nd place in the Champions League table, with just two games left to secure their place in the next round. With their current standing, City will likely have to go through a knockout playoff to make it to the last 16, adding further pressure to their already struggling squad.
Manchester City's Champions League Woes: Defeat to Juventus Deals Blow to Knockout Hopes
Manchester City's pursuit of a third successive UEFA Champions League title suffered a major setback on Wednesday as they were defeated 2-0 by Juventus at the Etihad Stadium. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances in the first half, City were unable to find a breakthrough and were eventually punished by a ruthless Juventus side.
First-Half Dominance, Second-Half Disappointment
City started the match brightly and controlled possession for much of the opening 45 minutes. They created several promising openings, but Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne were both guilty of missing good chances. Juventus, on the other hand, were clinical in their attacking moments, taking the lead through Federico Chiesa in the 31st minute.
After the break, City continued to press for an equalizer, but they were met with a resolute Juventus defense. The Italian giants doubled their advantage through a deflected Paulo Dybala shot in the 67th minute, effectively sealing the victory.
City's League Standing and Playoff Prospects
With this defeat, City remain in fifth place in Group H with just two games left to play. They are three points behind second-placed Real Madrid and four points behind leaders Juventus. To qualify for the knockout stages, City must win their remaining matches against Leipzig and PSG while hoping for favorable results in other matches.
If City finish third in their group, they will have to go through a knockout playoff against a runner-up from another group. This would add further pressure to their already struggling squad, which has been hit by injuries and poor form in recent weeks.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why did Manchester City lose to Juventus? City failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the first half and were ultimately punished by a clinical Juventus side.
2. What does this defeat mean for City's Champions League chances? City will likely have to go through a knockout playoff to make it to the last 16, adding further pressure to their already struggling squad.
3. Who scored the goals for Juventus? Federico Chiesa and Paulo Dybala scored the goals for Juventus.
4. What is the current Champions League table? Juventus (12 points), Real Madrid (9 points), PSG (8 points), Manchester City (7 points), Leipzig (4 points)
5. When is City's next Champions League match? City's next Champions League match is on December 7, away to RB Leipzig.
In a crucial match of the five-match series between Australia and India, captain Pat Cummins has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Both teams are tied at 1-1 after a draw in the previous test. Despite the expected hot weather with a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, a large crowd of over 90,000 is expected to attend the match.
Australia's young opener Sam Konstas makes his debut while India opts for spin in their playing XI. With the pitch likely to wear out quickly, India may have the upper hand in the batting order. However, Australia's young talent and strong fast bowling attack remain a threat for the Indian team. Follow live updates as the two teams face off in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes Indian opener Shubman Gill can improve his overseas record by making minor changes to his approach. Despite scoring four hundreds in 17 Tests at home, Gill's average of 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia is a cause of concern for Ponting. The 21-year-old may be overcomplicating his approach, and Ponting suggests that he should trust his instincts and maintain an attacking mindset for better results.
Despite being left out of the Uttar Pradesh's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, Sameer Rizvi has been dominating the Under-23 One Day State A tournament with his incredible performances. In a recent match against Vidarbha, Rizvi smashed a double century in just 105 deliveries, setting a new record with 10 fours and 18 sixes. The talented player's aggregate in the tournament is an impressive 728 runs with 52 fours and 64 sixes, cementing his position as a rising star in the world of cricket.
After much anticipation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025, which will see India playing all of their matches in Dubai. This event will also introduce a new hybrid model for India and Pakistan's matches, with neutral venues being used until 2027. This agreement covers all ICC events for the next few years, creating a new dynamic for both teams in future tournament matches. Stay updated with News24 for all the latest news and updates on this exciting development.
Utah Jazz's star forward Lauri Markkanen had to be helped off the court in the fourth quarter after colliding with Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. After being diagnosed with a left knee contusion, Markkanen was unable to return to the game. The Jazz ended up losing to the Spurs 128-115, resulting in their elimination from NBA Cup contention.
After missing the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, Rohit Sharma is expected to return as opener for the crucial Boxing Day Test. This change in the Indian batting order could also have a domino effect on other players, potentially impacting young Shubman Gill's position in the team. Meanwhile, Australia has made two changes to their playing XI for the 4th Test, with Scott Boland and debutant Sam Konstas added to the squad.
Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma was irritated by a female fan's repeated requests to call Shubman Gill during practice at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. With the WTC Final dreams at stake, this match is crucial for both India and Australia. Despite his struggles with form, Rohit does not want Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant to be weighed down by outside suggestions as they are all "capable" players. These three youngsters will form the core of Indian batting in the next decade, and Rohit knows their worth.
After months of delay and uncertainty, the schedule for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been announced, with a major change to the format. All India matches, including the highly-anticipated clash against Pakistan, will now be played at a neutral venue. This comes after a stalemate between the BCCI, PCB, and ICC over India's matches in Pakistan, finally leading to the implementation of the Hybrid Model. The tournament will kick off in Dubai next year, with a revamped group division.
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been facing a string of injury setbacks since the 2023 ODI World Cup. After recovering from a heel injury, Shami has now experienced slight swelling in his left knee, ruling him out of contention for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The BCCI is monitoring his fitness and his participation in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee.