Pep Guardiola’s men began our defence of Europe’s elite competition with a 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
A second half brace from Julian Alvarez and an impressive strike from Rodrigo were enough to cancel out the visitors’ opener against the run of play.
From maintaining an incredible Champions League home record to Matheus Nunes’ impressive full debut, check out some of the memorable numbers from the clash below…
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Nunes impact
Matheus Nunes impressed on his full debut for City against Red Star Belgrade, featuring for the entire 90 minutes in a midfield three.
The Portuguese international stamped his authority on proceedings from the get-go, with his quality in possession and industry without it helping Guardiola’s men tick.
He ended the match with the third most passes (92) and second most touches, while his pass success rate of 97% was the best of any outfield player at the Etihad Stadium.
His heat map from the clash helps to demonstrate his overall impact on proceedings.
Etihad record extended
City have now gone an incredible 27 home matches in the Champions League without defeat, winning 25 and drawing just twice.
That record stretches all the way back to September 2018, when Lyon came away from the Etihad Stadium with a 2-1 victory.
It’s the third-longest unbeaten home run in the competition’s history, with only Barcelona (September 2013 – November 2020) and Bayern Munich (March 1998 – April 2002) able to better our current tally.
Total shots
Despite going behind, Pep Guardiola’s men were in control for the majority of proceedings at the Etihad Stadium, and that’s reflected in the remarkable shooting stats from the match.
Indeed, City had 22 shots against Red Star Belgrade in the first half alone, the most since Opta records began in 2003/04.
By full-time, we’d tried our luck on 37 occasions, with most by a team in a Champions League game since Real Madrid against Roma in March 2016.
Alvarez among the goals
Julian Alvarez has been one of City’s standout performers in the early stages of the season and added to his scoring tally with a double against Red Star Belgrade.
Our number 19 has now registered three goals in his last two Champions League games, more than in his first nine appearances in the competition.
The Argentine also boasts four goals and four assists so far this season in eight matches, combining relentless energy with a clinical finish and vision.
In his 635 minutes of football across 2023/24, Alvarez has averaged a goal involvement every 79 minutes he’s been on the pitch.
His first of the night, as demonstrated in the above graphic, proved to be the conclusion of a typically intricate passing move.
