UCL – What We Learned – Juventus 1 Manchester City 0

Even though City fared reasonably well in the 27-year-old’s absence, Pellegrini knows what a difference his star forward makes. He has a problem in his hamstring. Juve, who completed the domestic double last season and reached the final of the Champions League, are seeking to recover from an terrible start to their Serie A campaign that has seen them suffer four defeats already this term. “David improved a little bit more the last two days and he’s working with the physio in Manchester”. He’s working with the physio in Manchester.

Pellegrini was upbeat about his team’s performance despite the result allowing Juve to take over at the top.

Despite the dual commitments, Pellegrini is keen for his side to learn to cope with both competitions, something he expects all big clubs to aspire to.

Fernando guided De Bruyne’s left-wing corner towards the bottom corner, where Buffon touched his header onto the base of the post and gathered with Yaya Toure lurking.

There was a comical moment shortly before kickoff when the stadium announcer said “this is the team for Manchester United” – City’s biggest rival – before swiftly correcting himself.

“We must do better, as we have to put together consistent growth and learn how to control the various moments of the match, as we still have a lot of young and inexperienced players”. The minimum we deserved was a draw but they scored a goal and I thought there was a foul before Mandzukic finished the play.

“It is important to be a solid, consistent team and to recover our normal style of play and that will give us the points we need to win it”.

On the setback to England’s No.1, and his side’s hopes of topping Group D – which would require a home win against Borussia Monchengladbach and a favour from Sevilla – Toure added: “Today Joe Hart played well, he saved two goals”.

Are Juve stronger than City? .

He said: “Mr Pellegrini is right”.

Allegri admitted the match could have gone either way but said Hart had made the difference on at least one occasion.

“We had chances to score but at the end of the day, it was 1-0 for them and we have to bounce back in the next game”.

Mandzukic was denied a second by a brilliant one-handed save from Hart as he met Paulo Dybala’s nod down with a firm shot.

“I think we are quite disappointed”.

The Citizens must hope that alongside winning their own game, Juventus lose their final tie away at if they are to progress as group winners.