Joe Hart forced off injured as Manchester City lose at Juventus

Manchester City lost 1-0 to Juventus in Turin as their hopes of finishing top of Group D suffered a setback with England goalkeeper Joe Hart forced off injured in the closing minutes of a forgettable night for the visitors at the Juventus Stadium.

City had already qualified for the last 16, but Juventus have secured their progress and are now two points clear of Manuel Pellegrini's side heading for the final round of fixtures.

Mario Mandzukic struck the winner when he brushed off Nicolas Otamendi to head in at the back post. Hart departed the action apparently suffering from a hamstring strain with Willy Caballero taking over as City desperately chased a draw to retain top place.

Raheem Sterling blew a golden chance to equalise when he shot wide on 79 minutes, and City must overcome Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium on December 8 and hope Juventus lose at Sevilla to have a chance of finishing top.

If City win and Juventus draw, the Italian champions will progress as group winners courtesy of a better head-to-head record against City having won in England in September.

Pellegrini has already stated his wish to finish top of the section, and avoid a meeting with a group winner such as Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the last 16, but such a scenario seems likely after this defeat.

18' - GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Manchester City 0. Paul Pogba strides forward, plays the ball out left, and Mandzukic shoves Otamendi away to turn in the cross at the back post.

28' - MANDZUKIC SHOT! Mandzukic receives a knockdown from Lichtsteiner, and his volley is well struck and well saved by Joe Hart at the near post.

42' - HART SAVE! Lichtsteiner comes forward on the right, Clichy trailing him, and Joe Hart rushes out to slap down his shot from close range.

45' - AGUERO CHANCE! Marchisio's terrible backpass goes straight to Aguero, and Buffon has to run straight out to close down the striker and concede a corner with the save.

53' - BUFFON SAVE! De Bruyne takes a corner... it falls to Yaya Toure at the back post after Fernando's header, but Buffon dives on it to save.

55' - STURARO HITS THE POST! Morata is set free down the inside right. He lifts the ball over Hart, and Sturaro strains in, sliding, at the back post, but his effort off the bottom of his foot grazes the post.

80' - STERLING MISS! De Bruyne slides in a pass across the six-yard box for Sterling, who slides into a shot, sending it bobbling wide of goal.

81' - HART OFF. Hart is now coming off. He ran out to save a pass for Morata, and the decision was made. Caballero on.

Evra made his 100th Champions League appearance when he came on as a sub.

Why did Manchester City play so conservatively? For a side that has never progressed significantly in the Champions League knockout stages, they should be more aggressive about winning their group and stacking the odds in their favour. As it was, they were slack and unenthused, as they have been for the past month. They must look to the grey Manuel Pellegrini for inspiration.

Paul Pogba (Juventus): Though he faded in the second half, he was a constant threat in the first half and showed flashes of excellence. He is inventive, strong, quick, intelligent, skilfull and with the ability to open up sides. City could do with such a player.