Pep Guardiola made changes as Manchester City round off their Champions League group campaign for another year at Crvena Zvezda. His decision to give youngster Micah Hamilton his first senior start paid off when the 20-year-old scored a superb debut goal after 19 minutes.
City are in Belgrade for their final Group G game, having already secured top spot, and Red Star know they will finish bottom of the group. As a result, Guardiola has confirmed he will rotate his squad to give players who haven’t featured as much recently a chance to impress.
Guardiola called up four academy players to his squad in total. Along with starter Hamilton, True Grant was included in the squad as Ederson misses out through illness, and he is joined on the subs bench by centre-back Max Alleyne and midfielder Mahamadou Susoho.
Oscar Bobb also makes the starting lineup, with the likes of Rodri, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva substitutes. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku remain out, while Kevin De Bruyne is still to return from his hamstring injury.
CITY XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones (c), Akanji, Gomez, Phillips, Kovacic, Nunes, Bobb, Grealish, Hamilton. Subs: Carson, Grant, Walker, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Alvarez, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Foden, Alleyne, Susoho.
Follow below for pre-match build-up, live match updates and post-match reaction from Belgrade.
18:52Joe Bray
47′ – Hamilton takes aim
Micah Hamilton is full of confidence, bending an effort towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It curls just wide.
0-1
18:50Joe Bray
45′ – Foden comes on
Jack Grealish had that knock, and was being kicked all over Belgrade, so is replaced by Phil Foden. City will hope it isn’t a serious injury.
Back underway.
0-1
18:35Simon Bajkowski
HT – Grealish unhappy
Jack Grealish limps off the pitch at half-time after having a strong word with the ref about the treatment he’s had. Phillips and Lewis have also piled in to have their say. Phillips seemed to be trying to diffuse the situation, while making the point to the referee a little more diplomatically.
18:33Simon Bajkowski
HT – Half time ratings
Ortega 7
Lewis 7
Stones 6
Akanji 7
Gomez 5
Phillips 6
Kovacic 7
Nunes 7
Hamilton 8
Grealish 6
Bobb 7
18:32Joe Bray
HT – Half time
Well, how about that. It’s not been a classic, but it’s a 45 minutes that Micah Hamilton will never forget.
He’s been brilliant on the right, and took his goal superbly. City lead, and can think about more rotation in the second half if things stay this way.
18:31Joe Bray
45′ – So close
Hamilton sends in a brilliant low ball to the back post, with Bobb sliding in but he just can’t get there. It comes out to Phillips to line one up, but the shot is wide.
One minute to be added.
0-1
18:29Joe Bray
42′ – Nearing half-time
City are comfortable in possession, with a lack of chances for either team reflecting the fact that nobody has anything to play for.
0-1
18:20Joe Bray
33′ – Nunes misses a sitter
Matheus Nunes is the luckiest man in Belgrade to see the flag go up as he is unmarked in the centre and sends a cross wide, somehow, from six yards. Great build up, but Grealish was offside when he sent the cross in.
0-1
18:15Key Event
29′ – Watch Hamilton’s debut goal
He certainly didn’t throw away his shot.
18:14Simon Bajkowski
28′ – Pep’s reaction to the goal
City players surrounded Hamilton after his goal but Guardiola was more interested in arguing with Gomez, the player closest to him but also the player who he has already had a few coming togethers over various things. The jury is still out on Gomez at left back.
0-1
18:13Joe Bray
26′ – Over the bar
Red Star attack with Nedelikovic, who cuts inside and curls narrowly over. Good effort.
0-1
18:12Joe Bray
25′ – Pep’s previous with Hamilton
This feels like a good time to look back on this incredible story.
Back in 2017, Micah Hamilton was a ballboy at City, asked by Pep Guardiola to help the Blues speed up play.
City went on to win the game, Hamilton progressed through the academy, and now he’s making his senior debut under Guardiola.
18:09Simon Bajkowski
23′ – What a goal it was
What a goal that was from Hamilton. Good word from Grealish and Nunes to tee him up but there was still plenty of work to be done to get the ball into the net. A debut to remember already.
18:07Joe Bray
20′ – VAR review
Hamilton held his run after being played in on the right by Nunes, he had plenty of work to do, but stood up his man, took him towards the byline, and fired into the roof of the net. Not unlike Rico Lewis’ finish against Sevilla last season.
VAR check that he stayed onside, and he did.
0-1
18:05Key Event
17′ – Hamilton scores!
What a moment!
He takes it alone, and fires into the roof of the net from an angle.
Wow.
0-1
18:02Joe Bray
16′ – Ortega comes out
Phillips gives the ball away in attack and encourages another Red Star counter. Ortega comes out to head away a long ball outside of his box.
0-0
17:59Joe Bray
13′ – Play on
Grealish is back on, but Foden is still warming up. There didn’t seem to be any challenge that caused him to go down holding his ribs, but he’s back on for now.
0-0
17:58Joe Bray
12′ – Grealish is down
Jack Grealish has taken a knock to his ribs and asks for the ball to be put out.
0-0
17:56Simon Bajkowski
10′ – Nunes pushing up
Nunes is pushing high up alongside Hamilton and Bobb to help the two youngsters out, with Kovacic sitting back alongside Phillips. It’s a more defensive formation than we’re used to seeing from City but probably makes the most sense given the personnel.
0-0
17:51Joe Bray
5′ – High press from Red Star
The hosts are pressing high, with Ortega already having plenty of touches under pressure.
On the break, City have created a couple of half-chances, with Hamilton getting some good early touches on the ball.
0-0
17:48Joe Bray
1′ – Bobb upfront
As expected, it’s Bobb upfront, Hamilton right and Grealish left.
Phillips and Kovacic are a double pivot, with Nunes further ahead. Gomez is left-back and Lewis right-back. No surprises.
0-0
17:46Joe Bray
1′ – Kick off
Red Star get us underway.
0-0
17:43Joe Bray
Teams come out
The players have made their way through the long, graffiti-clad tunnel and are out on the pitch.
17:38Simon Bajkowski
What Pep REALLY meant with Haaland update
Guardiola seems to have got lots of people who weren’t in the press conference yesterday excited about Erling Haaland.
The manager spoke about Haaland being back with the group on Thursday, meaning that he will be in the same place as them following their return from Serbia where he is not because he is injured.
City are looking at his injury on a daily basis so there is a chance he could make the Palace game, but Guardiola’s comment last night should not be twisted into saying the striker will definitely be back and fit by tomorrow.
17:32Joe Bray
Guardiola confirms Bobb will play upfront
So, UEFA are right, Oscar Bobb will play through the middle for City.
Pep Guardiola tells TNT Sport:
“We play Oscar Bobb as a striker, he plays in the middle last season for the second team. He can play outside, or inside, we rely a lot on him.”
On Kalvin Phillips:
“We are happy to see him and hopefully he can play a good game because he deserves it.
“We play to defend our position, once we are here, we do our job as best as possible. In points it’s over, but we are here to do our job.”
17:19Simon Bajkowski
Where are Red Star?
City are warming up…on an otherwise empty pitch. Crvena Zvezda always warm up on training pitches rather than the actual pitch so their half is currently deserted. It’s a bit surreal, I can’t remember ever seeing it before.
17:17Simon Bajkowski
Where are the goals?
City have scored 15 goals so far in this group stage and the scorers of 14 of those are not in the starting XI. A lot of pressure on Manu Akanji then to continue with his streak!
17:10Joe Bray
Who plays where?
UEFA have Oscar Bobb leading the line, but could Jack Grealish be given a chance in the centre?
Both Bobb and Micah Hamilton are better on the wings, or at least have played more football there for the academy, and Grealish can offer a focal point with his experience.
17:06Simon Bajkowski
Midfield trio with something to prove
It’s a sign of how much Guardiola is resting players for this game that there are so many changes.
Phillips, Nunes and Kovacic all have something to prove in midfield and will have to work as well as possible together in order to compete against each other.
16:59Simon Bajkowski
Grant getting a taste of the atmosphere
What a game for True Grant to make his first matchday appearance in. The fans already in here were howling over the top of the music as the three goalkeepers made their way out of the tunnel to warm up.
16:54Joe Bray
In place in Belgrade
A stadium with a reputation for a fierce atmosphere. And a very very very long tunnel.
16:49Simon Bajkowski
Ortega can put himself in shop window
Stefan Ortega may be putting himself in the shop window with his performance tonight.
The German goalkeeper has made it plain he has ambitions beyond being a No.2 at City forever and Bayern Munich showed interest in making him their No.1 in the summer. Regardless of City’s stance, another good display tonight may interest a few teams looking at strengthening their squad next month.
16:45Simon Bajkowski
Amazing night for Hamilton
Amazing for Micah Hamilton that he gets to start in such an atmospheric arena.
The atmosphere outside is already very very lively with lots of riot police surrounding. Inside, it is still warming up but that famous tunnel lurks by the side of the pitch.
16:37Key Event
Who is Micah Hamilton?
So, Micah Hamilton starts – but who is he?
Described as a ‘street footballer’ by his coaches, Hamilton has made the bench twice this season, and today makes his senior City debut – the latest youngster to make the step up from the academy.
Read his full profile here.
16:34Key Event
City starting line up confirmed
Micah Hamilton makes his City debut in a much-changed side in Belgrade. Stones captains the side as the likes of Foden, Dias, Bernardo and Alvarez get a rest.
Here are the odds for tonight’s game from Betway:
Crvena Zvezda – 4/1
Draw – 16/5
Man City – 8/13
16:23Simon Bajkowski
Bobb’s time to shine?
Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis have been among the players to get their breaks in the Champions League with City and tonight is set up for Oscar Bobb to have the chance for a moment.
Guardiola brought the player on when his team were seeking a goal at Aston Villa so clearly has faith in him as the Blues look for him to take that next step forward in the team.
16:08Key Event
City issue statement after fans hospitalised in Belgrade attack
Manchester City are working with local police after a number of their fans were attacked in Belgrade on Tuesday night.
A number of Blues have made the journey over to Serbia for the Champions League dead rubber, with many travelling over the day before. However, a small number of supporters were set upon in a bar on Tuesday night by men in balaclavas wielding sticks.
The Manchester Evening News can confirm that a few Blues were hospitalised with their injuries but have been discharged, with only minor injuries sustained. City are working with local police on the incident, and have also introduced buses to take fans to and from the stadium for the match on Wednesday.
Read the full story and City statement here.
15:59Simon Bajkowski
Guardiola irritated by City criticism
Guardiola has been critical recently of the way his side’s run of four games without a win has been treated.
There is not likely to be much fanfare around this dead rubber either but City can become just the second English team after Liverpool a few years ago to take all 18 points from the group stage. That is worthy of recognition.
15:45Simon Bajkowski
Fans urged to be careful in Belgrade
There are plenty of City fans in Belgrade but the welcome hasn’t been as warm as the weather.
There were reports of an attack on a bar last night and supporters have been advised not to wear club colours going to the game this evening. It is a ground famed for its atmosphere but getting to it shouldn’t be as precarious as it is.
15:31Joe Bray
Pick your best City team here
Read how our writers think City should line up HERE and use the interactive widget below to select your best team:
15:19Joe Bray
Early City team news
Four players are out, and four youngsters have been called up, and there should be plenty of changes from Guardiola.
This is what we know:
- Ederson is ill so hasn’t travelled – so Stefan Ortega will start.
- Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne remain out.
- Youngsters True Grant, Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho and Micah Hamilton are all in the squad.
- Guardiola says he will rotate his side, giving fringe players a chance to impress.
15:05Joe Bray
Good afternoon!
Hello, and welcome to coverage of Manchester City’s final Champions League game of 2023 – the year the Blues won the competition for the first time.
They can go the whole calendar year unbeaten in Europe if they avoid defeat at Crvena Zvezda tonight, with nothing riding on the result for both sides. City have already topped the group, and Red Star cannot overtake Young Boys to qualify for the Europa League because of an inferior head-to-head record.
With nothing to play for, Pep Guardiola says he will rotate his squad, resting key players and giving a chance to those who haven’t played as much recently.
Ederson hasn’t travelled to Serbia through illness, so Stefan Ortega is expected to start.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
