Thierry Ambrose reduced the deficit late on, but Grigoris Kastanos’s double condemned the youngsters to defeat. City remain top of Group D – two points ahead of Sevilla – ahead of their last remaining game against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Vieira/Gunn post-match
Head Coach Patrick Vieira made five changes to the starting eleven that beat Sevilla last time out. Angus Gunn replaced Daniel Grimshaw in goal, while Pablo Maffeo at right back.
Cameron Humphreys partnered Charlie Oliver at centre back, replacing Tosin Adarabioyo and the suspended Kean Bryan, with Ashley Smith-Brown replacing Aleix Garcia in central midfield.
City dominated the early stages and came close to scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes. Smith-Brown saw his long shot saved by Mattia Del Favero before Aaron Nemane headed narrowly over from Rodney Kongolo’s floated cross.
Gunn was called into action in the 24th minute, palming away Guido Vadala’s low effort but he couldn’t prevent Juventus opening the scoring three minutes later.
Kastanos created space for himself just inside the area and drove a low shot into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead.
City reacted well with Patrick Roberts causing problems for the Juventus defence. First, his deflected effort was saved at the second attempt by Del Favero before his low cross nearly sneaked in at the far post.
Vadala nearly made it 2-0 just after half time when he dragged his shot narrowly wide before the home side doubled their lead in the 60th minute.
Gunn’s clearance was intercepted by Roman Macek, who played in Kastanos to finish emphatically from the edge of the area for his second of the game.
Vieira switched to a back three midway through the second half, bringing on forward Lukas Nmecha for defender Bullock but it was fellow sub Will Patching who threatened next for City.
He stepped up to take a 25-yard free kick in the 76th minute and saw his effort drift narrowly over the crossbar.
Manu Garcia pushed further forward late in the game to try and find a way back for City, but his curled shot didn’t trouble Del Favero in the Juventus goal.
Nemane was inches away from converting Ambrose’s far post cross in the final minute, but saw the ball nicked away from him at the last minute by Pol Kosok.
The roles were then reversed in the first minute of added time as Ambrose headed in at the near post from Nemane’s cross, but it was too late to spark a comeback.
