Man City 3-1 Red Star: Alvarez nets brace to help City complete comeback

Champions League holders Manchester City made a winning start to the defence of their title as Julian Alvarez scored twice to spearhead a second-half comeback which defeated Red Star Belgrade 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

6' CHANCE! Nunes header over the bar

15' ClOSE! Rodri’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!

19' ClOSE! Álvarez’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!

27' OFF THE POST! Haaland nearly scores for City!

30' CLOSE! Ake’s header too straight

37' CLOSE! Gomez’s shot wide out

43' Foden misses a good chance!

45' GOAL! Man City 0-1 Red Star (Osman Bukari)

47' GOAL! Man City 1-1 Red Star (Julián Álvarez)

60' GOAL! Man City 2-1 Red Star (Julián Álvarez)

65' CLOSE! Rodri’s shot wide out

73' GOAL! Man City 3-1 Red Star (Rodri)

Match Report

Prior to taking the lead, City had completely dominated the game, with Glazer producing a series of fine saves to thwart the hosts and Erling Haaland hitting the crossbar.

The hosts finally started to take their chances in the second period but could have scored plenty more with Kyle Walker having an effort disallowed, Haaland again hitting the woodwork and Alvarez finding the side-netting.

City had their first chance after nine minutes when Phil Foden had an effort deflected over and Rodri then jinked into the area before testing Glazer.

It was the start of a busy half for the Israeli keeper, who also denied Alvarez twice and kept out a point-blank header from Foden.

He could do little about City’s best chance of the opening period as Haaland met a floated Foden cross with a firm header but the bar came to his aid.

Haaland had another good chance to put City ahead but turned over from in front of goal.

City were made to rue their wasted chances as Red Star, who had looked to counter-attack when possible, grabbed a shock lead on the stroke of half-time.

The hosts were punished for playing a high line as Bukari was played through by Mirko Ivanic and slotted coolly past Ederson.

It initially looked like an offside flag might spare City but the goal was awarded following a VAR review.

City, who brought on Jeremy Doku for Bernardo Silva in the closing moments of the first half, quickly regrouped and equalised two minutes after the interval.

Alvarez levelled quickly after the break and was then responsible for City taking the lead as his free-kick was punched into goal by the otherwise excellent Red Star goalkeeper Omri Glazer.

Rodri, the matchwinner against Inter Milan in June's final, produced a trademark finish to seal the victory as City extended their unbeaten run at home in the Champions League to 27 matches.

Line-ups

Man City XI: Walker, Ake, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Rodri, Haaland, Foden, Sergio Gómez, Julián Álvarez, Matheus Nunes

Subs: Carson, Stefan Ortega, Akanji, Kalvin Phillips, Jérémy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis

Red Star XI: Dragovic, Rodic, Srdjan Mijailovic, Ivanic, Omri Glazer, In-beom Hwang, Cherif Ndiaye, Osman Bukari, Marko Stamenic, Stefan Mitrovic, Nasser Djiga

Subs: Milunovic, Katai, U. Spajić, Degenek, Guélor Kanga, Popovic, Peter Olayinka, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Vasiljevic, Kings Kangwa, Vladimir Lucic, Uros Kabic