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.
Red Star, Serbian champions for the past six years, have fine European pedigree having won the elite competition in 1991, and they took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time when Osman Bukari’s strike was allowed to stand after a VAR review for offside (45).
But Pep Guardiola’s side – who recorded 22 shots during a one-sided first half – rallied to ensure there would be no upset as Alvarez combined with Erling Haaland to round Omri Glazer and score within two minutes of the restart.
The Argentine would celebrate a second when Glazer, whose heroics had kept Red Star level, inexplicably punched the Argentine’s curling free-kick into his own net (60).
Rodri, the matchwinner against Inter Milan in June’s final, produced a trademark finish (73) to seal the victory as City extended their unbeaten run at home in the Champions League to 27 matches.
