Rico Lewis wasn't enough: Manchester City player ratings against Juventus
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
Manchester City is enduring a rough patch, and the issue might not be limited to Rodri's absence, as many suggest. This is a squad that achieved the treble, winning everything there was to win. The question is, do they still have the motivation to push for new triumphs? The match against Juventus was a perfect test of character—a team of that caliber demands nothing less. However, City failed this test, only truly coming alive after conceding the first goal.
That said, knowing City’s typical season trajectory, the real action might still be ahead. Even last season’s title-winning campaign had a far-from-perfect first half.
Now, let’s dive into the standout performances from this game.
Rico Lewis - 7/10
Lewis isn’t just another player on the field—he works like he’s the 11th, 12th, and 13th man combined. In other words, Rico is everywhere: defending, attacking, covering his flank, and even appearing on the right or centrally between the lines. His versatility helps City fill more positions than they have players.
Unfortunately, the young Rico isn’t perfect. While his positioning is excellent, his technique still needs polishing. There were moments of misplaced passes and turnovers. Still, his work rate allows City to stretch their tactical flexibility, even in difficult games.
Kevin De Bruyne - 7/10
De Bruyne was arguably City’s biggest threat throughout the match, especially in the second half, as many of their attacking moves flowed through him. Kevin explored every flank and angle, delivering crosses and through balls into Juventus’ box. He also had a few attempts on goal himself, though the organized Juventus defense limited their success. De Bruyne was the driving force behind City’s offensive pressure.
Bernardo Silva - 7/10
City’s attack was far from its best in this match. The team struggled to penetrate Juventus’ penalty area, managing only 12 shots, of which 3 were on target. Silva was one of the few players consistently involved in the final third. He completed 3 of 6 dribbles (not far off Jeremy Doku’s 5 of 10) and made several incisive passes in Juventus’ box. Silva also contributed defensively with 2 clearances and an interception.
Worth mentioning:
Jeremy Doku put in the effort, attempting 10 dribbles. However, Juventus anticipated his danger and often assigned two defenders to neutralize him. While he applied significant pressure on their defense, Juventus managed to snuff it out effectively.
Other player ratings:
- Walker - 6
- Gvardiol - 6
- Grealish - 6
- Gundogan - 7
- Dias - 6
- Doku - 6
- Ederson - 6
- Nunes - N/A (too little time on the field)
- Savinho - 5
- Haaland - 5
