Defending UEFA Champions League champions Manchester City survived a scare in the first game of their title defense at home to Crvena Zvezda. The visitors from Belgrade took the lead just before the break in shock circumstances, with City having peppered their goal throughout the first half. However, Julian Alvarez responded after the break and added a second in fortuitous circumstances.

Reigning Champions League holders Manchester City came from behind to beat Crvena Zvezda 3-1 on Tuesday night at the Etihad.
Manager Pep Guardiola had made changes to bring in some fringe players, and the home side struggled to play at their usual pace.
Phil Foden and Erling Haaland missed great chances in the first half and were made to pay when Osman Bukari sprung the offside trap at the end of the half to score after a VAR review.

In the second half, Julian Alvarez leveled after just two minutes after clever link-up play from Erling Haaland, and on the hour mark a howler from Omri Glazer gave Alvarez his second from a seemingly benign free-kick. It was a cruel blow for Glazer who had been superb in the first half in keeping City out.