On Wednesday evening, Manchester City achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the second English team in Champions League history to secure victory in all six of their group stage games. The Cityzens clinched this feat with a 3-2 win against Red Star in Serbia.
Pep Guardiola, having already secured the top spot in Group G, fielded a youthful lineup that showcased their prowess in Belgrade. Micah Hamilton, making his Champions League debut, opened the scoring with a superb finish in the first half.
Oscar Bobb extended the visitors’ lead with an equally impressive effort after an hour at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. Despite a 76th-minute consolation goal for the hosts, courtesy of Hwang, and an even later header from Aleksandar Katai, Kalvin Phillips’ late penalty ensured another victory for the European champions.
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In terms of the match progression, Guardiola’s ability to heavily rotate the squad, introducing players like Phillips, Bobb, and Hamilton, paid off. Hamilton, in particular, showcased his skill, securing the lead with a powerful drive into the Red Star net.
Although Red Star came close to equalizing with a 17-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic’s attempt, City’s dominance on the ball extinguished any momentum for the Serbian side. Hamilton nearly provided an assist just before halftime, with Bobb narrowly missing a chance to double the lead.
Hamilton continued to be a threat in the second half, narrowly missing a curling effort, while Stefan Ortega made crucial saves at the other end. Bobb, however, stole the spotlight with a fantastic finish, cutting into the penalty area and calmly slotting the ball into the net.
Despite Red Star pulling a goal back with Hwang’s strike, Hamilton’s late penalty conversion by Phillips sealed the victory for Manchester City. Although Katai scored in stoppage time for the hosts, it proved inconsequential as City left Serbia with a perfect record and three valuable points.