Sports desk: The current champions of the UEFA Champions League kicked off their group stage campaign with a strong win against Red Star Belgrade, the Serbian club.

Although they initially fell behind, Pep Guardiola’s squad staged an impressive comeback in the opening match.

Julian Alvarez, the Argentine forward and last season’s top scorer, seized the opportunity to shine as he netted a brace to secure a 3-1 victory for Manchester City over Red Star Belgrade.

On Tuesday night (September 19), the Etihad Stadium was graced with the presence of the European champions. In the ‘G’ group match, they found themselves trailing early in the game but later turned the tables.

The match highlighted the distinct differences between the two teams.

Despite City’s dominance, the Israeli goalkeeper of Red Star Belgrade, Omri Glazer, put up an excellent performance, making nine crucial saves in the first half alone.

At the 45th minute mark, Osman Bukari provided an assist to Mirko Ivanic, which led to Red Star Belgrade’s first shot on target.

Initially ruled offside by the assistant referee, VAR intervened, overturning the decision in favor of Belgrade, putting them in the lead.

The match remained tense throughout, with both teams having their fair share of opportunities. However, it was the Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland who made the difference for City.

Despite a missed chance by Phil Foden and other opportunities, the scoreline remained 1-0 in favor of Belgrade for a significant part of the match.

In the second half, City’s persistence paid off as Marja leveled the score, bringing the game to 1-1. Alvarez then stole the show with a brilliant finish, capitalizing on a pass from Haaland to put City ahead 2-1. The lead was short-lived, as Kyle Walker’s goal for City was disallowed due to an offside call.

In the end, Manchester City emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, marking a positive start to their UEFA Champions League campaign.

The match showcased the competitiveness of European football and the skills of players like Alvarez and Haaland, who have the potential to make a significant impact in the tournament.