Why Man City fans were forced to stay inside Juventus Stadium after trying to leave early as crisis deepens with Champions League defeat

Pep Guardiola's team fell to a 2-0 loss against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium with Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scoring for the hosts. However, in the final few minutes, nearly 2,000 travelling City fans contemplated an early exit. However, the stadium's public address system announced that they would have to stay put which forced them to witness the jubilant celebrations of Juventus supporters at the final whistle.

The move to keep Manchester City fans in the stadium is not unusual in European football, particularly in Italy, where such measures are implemented to avoid potential conflicts between rival fan groups. While frustrating for the travelling supporters, these actions are part of efforts to maintain order and prevent any violent clashes.

City now face serious challenges in their bid to progress in the Champions League. After earning just eight points from six group-stage matches, the team has slid from 17th to 22nd in the standings, leaving them precariously close to elimination. With only the top 24 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, Guardiola’s men are running out of time to salvage their European campaign. Their remaining fixtures include a daunting away match against Paris Saint-Germain in January, followed by a home game against Club Brugge.

City’s struggles extend beyond the Champions League. Since the beginning of November, the team has conceded 21 goals across all competitions - more than any other club from Europe’s top five leagues. Adding to their woes, City are now slated to face arch-rivals Manchester United in a high-stakes derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.