Man City begin their Champions League title defence at home against Serbian giants FK Crvena zvezda tonight. Pep Guardiola’s side finally achieved European glory after so many years of frustration last season, setting the seal on a famous treble as Rodri’s goal saw off Inter Milan in June’s final in Istanbul.
Many are tipping Super Cup holders City to become the first team since Real Madrid to win back-to-back titles in Europe’s premier club competition, no easy feat but one made initially easier by a gentle-looking Group G on paper that also includes RB Leipzig and Young Boys. They are already looking in ominous domestic form having won five from five to kick off their Premier League defence, coming from behind to take West Ham’s unbeaten record on Saturday with Guardiola returning to the dugout after back surgery.
City will be expected to comfortably now brush aside a Red Star outfit – famous winners in 1991 – that lifted the Serbian SuperLiga title last term but have lost two of their last three. Guardiola makes three changes to his starting XI, with Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez and Matheus Nunes all drafted in. Follow Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade live below!
Live updates
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GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Red Star Belgrade | Julian Alvarez 47′
47 mins: That certainly didn’t take long!
Just two minutes after the break, Alvarez turns neatly between the lines after receiving possession from midfield and links up wonderfully with Haaland before taking a touch beyond Glazer and knocking in from close range.
City respond brilliantly to being behind at the break for the second time in a matter of days.
And there will be more to come, surely.
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Manchester City 0-1 Red Star Belgrade
Back underway at a shocked Etihad!
Will City come back strong, or are we on for one of the biggest upsets in Champions Leauge history?
Let’s find out…
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Here is that Red Star goal, by the way. Dias tries to step up and gets it all wrong, playing Bukari just onside.
What a moment.
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Just the 79 per cent possession, 22 shots and 10 corners from City in that first half.
And they are behind! Football, eh? Never ceases to surprise.
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Manchester City 0-1 Red Star Belgrade
Half-time
City absolutely dominated possession and created chance after chance after chance, but incredibly they trail at the interval after Bukari’s breakaway goal.
Who saw this coming?!
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GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Red Star Belgrade | Osman Bukari 46’
46 mins: Well, well, well! How about this! Incredible!
Bukari fires the Serbian giants into a shock lead on the stroke of half-time! The goal is given after a long VAR check for offside. Wow!
The Ghanaian sprinted onto a long ball from Ivanic and slotted expertly past Ederson.
It was a tight, tight call, but the right one. What a story at the Etihad. Wild celebrations from the visitors.
City stunned!
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Manchester City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
43 mins: There have been a few uncertain punches to go along with some terrific saves from Glazer, but he’s clinging onto that clean sheet as things stand.
City are going to make a change before half-time. Jeremy Doku is about to come on.
Off goes Bernardo, who looks very disappointed indeed. Not an injury I don’t think, just more of a natural wide threat wanted by Pep.
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Manchester City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
40 mins: What a save from Glazer again!
It’s point-blank stuff to repel a Foden header from mere yards out.
That really should have been the breakthrough for City with five minutes left until half-time.
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Manchester City 0-0 Red Star Belgrade
38 min: Another top save from Glazer, this time to deny Alvarez.
This is becoming pure shooting practise for City, but still they cannot find a way through with half-time approaching.
Attack versus defence, it’s like a training game. But Red Star won’t care one bit if they somehow emerge with an unlikely point for their committed defensive efforts.