Europa League: Manchester City v Juventus full time report
Man City 1 Juventus 1
A first half equaliser from Adam Johnson earned Manchester City a point against Italian giants Juventus at Eastlands.
Vincenzo Iaquinta’s long range effort flicked off the head of Kolo Touré to give Juve an early lead, but after Gareth Barry’s header had hit a post, Yaya Touré’s through ball fed England winger Johnson to finish well.
City struggled to create many openings in the second half, although forward Emmanuel Adebayor dallied twice when in front of goal.
Juventus were on the back foot for most of the game, but almost stole it late on when Alessandro Del Piero’s free kick crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
City boss Roberto Mancini will see this as a missed opportunity to really make a statement in the Europa League, as his side never really got going.
This had been billed as cash-rich City’s first real chance to rub shoulders with one of the continent’s elite names, but although many had installed the English side as favourites, it would be the Italians who struck early.
Juve started the better, and after Iaquinta had tested Joe Hart from a tight angle on the right, the Italian international forward picked the ball up on the left hand side around 30 yards out, before letting fly with a left footed effort that skimmed off Kolo Touré’s head on its way past Hart and into the bottom corner.
Ahead after 10 minutes, the Italians looked full of confidence, and it was difficult for City to get a foothold in the match. Carlos Tévez and Patrick Vieira attempted efforts from distance, but to no avail.
They were still trying though, and Tévez’s cross from the left was cleverly flicked on by Barry only to come back out off a post, before Alex Manninger did well to block Johnson’s follow up. Tévez ballooned Johnson’s cross over the bar seconds later, only to be found marginally offside. The goal was coming though.
City’s midfielders had had plenty of possession but done little with it, until Yaya Touré found space ahead of the Juve back line, and threaded a precise through ball into the path of an onrushing Johnson, whose incisive run ended with a simple finish past an exposed Manninger for City’s leveller.
Buoyed by the goal, the hosts started the second half on top, and Johnson was soon testing former Arsenal goalkeeper Manninger with a low effort, before Barry fired over from the edge of the area. At the other end, veteran forward Del Piero showed a glimpse of his quality with a free kick that arrowed wide of Hart’s goal.
As City readied themselves to attempt a late surge, Adebayor dallied on the ball when presented with a chance following Yaya Touré’s great run, before the Togolese forward – who had had an ineffective game – was replaced by David Silva.
The hosts were struggling to create chances against a tough Juve defence which was protected by the impressive former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko in front of them, and the Italian giants almost nicked it late on when Del Piero’s fantastic free kick bounced down off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t go over the line.
There was still time for Sissoko to drive wide as Juve finished well and City finished flatly.
The visitors will see this as a good point, but City may view tonight as a missed opportunity to make a real statement in this competition.
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