Man City progress as seeded team in Europa League

Manchester City drew 1-1 with Juventus in Italy and win their group to become one of the seeded teams for the last 32 of the Europa League.

City came from behind to gain a point with a late strike from Jo leaving Juventus unbeaten in Group A but unable to progress into the knockout stages after becoming only the second side to draw all their six games in the group stage of a European competition.

City boss Roberto Mancini made nine changes to the side that won 3-1 at West Ham last weekend.

Less than 7,000 fans were treated to a poor first half of entertainment which was enlivened only by Juve taking the lead just before the break.

Young striker Nicolo Giannetti marked his first Juve start with the opening goal which set the second half up nicely.

Certainly there was more quality on offer after half-time but as the clock ticked down it looked as if City were heading for second spot in the group and potentially a tie against one of the Champions League teams who dropped down into the Europa League.

But with 14 minutes remaining the impressive Adam Johnson played the ball into Jo and the Brazilian turned and fired past Alex Manninger.

Johnson could have won it for the visitor’s with a last minute free kick but a point was sufficient to delight the 1,500 travelling supporters.

Referee: Istvan Vad (HUN)

Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 6,992

Juventus scorers: Nicolo Giannetti 43
Man City scorers: Jo 76

JUVENTUS
13 Manninger
03 Chiellini
17 Traore (Boniperti 66)
21 Grygera
33 Legrottaglie
04 Felipe Melo (yellow card)
05 Sissoko (yellow card)
27 Krasic (Camilleri 56)
10 Del Piero
23 Pepe
41 Nicolo Giannetti (Buchel 79)

Substitutes
30 Storari,
19 Bonucci,
39 Camilleri,
35 Buchel,
36 Giandonato,
37 Boniperti,
09 Iaquinta

MAN CITY
01 Given
02 Richards
03 Bridge
17 Boateng
38 Boyata
07 Milner
08 Wright-Phillips (Chantler 90+2)
11 A Johnson
24 Vieira
27 Jo
43 Nimely (Zabaleta (61yellow card)

Substitutes
12 Taylor,
05 Zabaleta,
41 Mee,
35 Kay,
50 Ibrahim,
53 Chantler,
59 Elabdellaoui

 
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