AP:
MANCHESTER CITY plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus yesterday, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions.
City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 advancing. Progressing to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season for a team that were European champions in 2023 and have won the last four Premier League titles. But not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players.
City have won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions, with goals by Dušan Vlahović and Weston McKennie inflicting the latest defeat and igniting Juventus’ qualification hopes.
City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan described the team’s problem as a “mental issue.”
Opponents “are able to break our rhythm with the smallest of things,” Gundogan said. “They don’t even need to do much, and it has such a big effect on us right now.”
Barcelona jumped into second place in the league standings, behind Liverpool, and are guaranteed to advance after a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund. Raphinha and Ferran Torres, with two goals, scored for Barca.
Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 mainly thanks to two goals from Bukayo Saka to move into third place and be the highest of six teams on 13 points.
The top eight qualify directly for the last 16, and the teams placed from ninth to 24th go into a two-legged playoff.
City have two games to save their faltering Champions League campaign, and the first is against Paris Saint-Germain, another giant in trouble in 25th place – one spot out of the qualifying positions.