Pellegrini: City were the better side

City and Juventus, who lost to Barcelona in last season’s final, are joined in Group D by Borussia Moenchengladbach and Europa League champions Sevilla.

Manuel Pellegrini claimed Manchester City played better than Juventus, despite slipping to a 2-1 defeat in their Champions League opener.

The French worldwide reckons City got what they deserved and need to improve their focus and concentration in order to succeed at the highest level.

He said: “The problem is we are just not scoring at the moment”. However, they believe that they will rise to the big occasion tonight, and that a win on the road against the English Premier League team could kick start their season.

“We played better than Juventus, we had three clear chances to score, I think Gianluigi Buffon made a good save and we were very unlucky, especially on their first goal”.

‘It was a odd game, ‘ Pellegrini said, after strikes from Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata cancelled out a Giorgio Chiellini own goal.

“I will leave the negative results behind us”, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini knows his side must transfer their Premier League form into the Champions League this season. The Bianconeri defended resolutely, took their chances ruthlessly and frustrated Manchester City for most of the 90 minutes. There was no panic and we did not feel we did not know what to do.

“We played against a good team, the finalists previous year, and they did very well”.

In team news, striker Sergio Aguero will not be available for City in today’s game due to a knee injury he picked up in their win over Crystal Palace last Saturday.

Bony, who has yet to score this season and has only managed two league goals since arriving from the Swans for a fee of £25m last January, may be given another opportunity to prove himself this weekend at home to West ham United.

But after England’s most expensive player Raheem Sterling fluffed a chance with only Buffon to beat, Mandzukic stole in behind defender centre-half Eliaquim Mangala to convert a wicked cross from Paul Pogba.