The Croatia striker converted Alex Sandro's cross in the first half to send Max Allegri's team back into first place in Group D, with both teams through to the next round
Mario Mandzukic's first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Juventus over Manchester City and sent the Italians through to the knockout stage and back into first place in Group D.Mandzukic got Juve's first goal when they came from behind to secure a 2-1 win in Manchester on matchday one and the Croatia striker's 18th-minute strike was enough to seal the points this time around.
Having made sure of their own last-16 berth with a superb 3-1 win at Sevilla in their previous game, City manager Manuel Pellegrini urged his team to grab top spot with victory in Turin.
On the back of their humiliating 4-1 loss to Liverpool on Saturday, the Premier League side turned in a much-improved showing but lacked a cutting edge to lend Juve the advantage in the battle for a seeded place in the knockout draw.
Juve only need a point from their final match at Sevilla to finish first ahead of City, who have been dumped out by Barcelona in the past two seasons as second-place qualifiers and will now fear a similar fate against a European heavyweight.
Substitute Raheem Sterling passed up a glorious chance to equalise in the closing stages before a miserable night for Pellegrini was compounded by an apparent groin injury to Joe Hart.
City had little to show for patient build-up play during the opening stages until Kevin De Bruyne's cross from the left broke for Fernandinho, a goalscorer against Sevilla, who blazed wastefully over on this occasion.
It was a miss the visitors would regret almost instantly as Paul Pogba orchestrated a Juventus break, skipping past De Bruyne to feed Alex Sandro before the wing-back's measured delivery was slotted home on the volley by Mandzukic.
A stunning reaction save by Hart prevented Mandzukic from adding a second on the end of Stephan Lichtsteiner's 28th-minute knockdown.
A woeful backpass from Claudio Marchisio almost let City striker Sergio Aguero in for an equaliser ahead of the interval but veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stood firm.
Another wonderful Sandro cross was impressively cleared by Nicolas Otamendi with Mandzukic lurking early in the second half before City came agonisingly close to an equaliser.
Fernando guided De Bruyne's left-wing corner towards the bottom corner, where Buffon touched his header onto the base of the post and gathered with Yaya Toure lurking.
Once again, City were at their most vulnerable having almost scored - Alvaro Morata, on for a limping Mandzukic, broke free of the away defence and his lofted attempt over Hart was turned on to the post by Stefano Sturaro.
Aguero, largely starved of service, had a 67th-minute volley deflected wide before making way for Sterling and Pellegrini's new attacking spearhead endured a moment to forget 10 minutes from time.
The England forward looked set to keep City in control of the race for top spot but he scuffed a left-footed shot wide from De Bruyne's low cross with the goal gaping.
Juventus joined Manchester City in the Champions League knockout stages by beating Manuel Pellegrini's men to move top of Group D.
Fernandinho blasted over from close range for the visitors before Mario Mandzukic volleyed last season's losing finalists ahead soon after.
Fernando had a header tipped onto the post for City after the break, before Stefano Sturaro hit the post for Juve.
Substitute Raheem Sterling squandered a golden chance to equalise late on.
The Italians will now finish top of the group if they win at Sevilla in their final match.
Manchester City's miserable night was compounded when goalkeeper Joe Hart was replaced late on because of injury.
Are City ready to challenge in Europe?
Pellegrini has overseen City's previous best Champions League campaigns by reaching the last 16 in the past two seasons.
But, having qualified for the last 16 with ease this time round, City are yet to prove they are ready to establish themselves among Europe's elite.
Having been hammered 4-1 at home by Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, they reacted positively by matching the Serie A champions for long periods.
They had lots of the ball, created several chances against a usually solid Juventus, and would have earned a point had Sterling been able to turn home from about six yards.
The worry remains defensively for City as, like in past seasons in Europe, they were cut open too often by their opponents - albeit with a number of players missing.
The only goal saw the visitors caught with too many men forward, not for the only time, and that is something you cannot afford to do in the latter stages.
How important is finishing top?
Manchester City had already qualified from the group but the importance of finishing top cannot be underestimated.
Finishing second the past two years cost them as being drawn against Barcelona both times meant the end of their tournament.
Top spot means you avoid playing against the other group winners in the next round, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Defeat in Turin leaves City potentially facing another very tough last-16 tie.
If Pellegrini's side do finish second they will hope Chelsea and Manchester United do not top their respective groups, because if they did it would reduce the number of clubs they could draw - increasing the chance of meeting the trio mentioned above.
Paul Pogba or Yaya Toure?
Juventus' Paul Pogba and Manchester City's Yaya Toure started in similar attacking midfield roles.
Both are key players for their teams but it was former Manchester United player Pogba, 22, who looked the more capable of having a positive contribution.
A sublime flick by the France midfielder almost created the opener for Juve, before he started the move for Mandzukic's winner.
Toure's passing accuracy was actually better than Pogba's but it was the latter's dynamism that caught the eye with the 32-year-old Ivory Coast international dropping increasingly deeper.
Man of the match: Paul Pogba
Stats you need to know
- Both of Mario Mandzukic's goals in the Champions League for Juventus this season have come against Manchester City
- None of Manchester City's 33 Champions League games has ended goalless, and they have kept only four clean sheets. Only Basel have played more games in the competition without ever registering a goalless draw (46)
- Manchester City's eight goals in this season's competition have been scored by eight different players
- Manchester City have never scored more than one goal in their six matches against Juventus
- Patrice Evra became the second French player to make 100 Champions League appearances, after Thierry Henry.
What next?
Manchester City finish their Champions League group campaign at home to Borussia Monchengladbach. They need to rely on Juventus not beating Sevilla and them winning to finish top of the group. In the Premier League, Manchester City entertain Southampton on Saturday.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Juventus
- 01 Buffon
- 15 Barzagli
- 19 Bonucci
- 03 Chiellini
- 26 Lichtsteiner
- 27 Sturaro
- 08 Marchisio
- 10 Pogba
- 12 Alex Sandro (Evra - 78' )
- 17 Mandzukic (Morata - 55' )
- 21 Dybala (Cuadrado - 82' )
Substitutes
- 07 Zaza
- 09 Morata
- 16 Cuadrado
- 18 Lemina
- 24 Rugani
- 25 Murara Neto
- 33 Evra
Manchester City
- 01 Hart (Caballero - 81' )
- 03 Sagna Booked
- 26 Demichelis
- 30 Otamendi
- 22 Clichy
- 06 Fernando
- 25 Fernandinho Booked (Delph - 60' )
- 15 Jesús Navas Booked
- 42 Y Touré
- 17 De Bruyne
- 10 Agüero (Sterling - 69' )
Substitutes
- 07 Sterling
- 11 Kolarov
- 13 Caballero
- 18 Delph
- 50 Maffeo
- 53 Adarabioyo
- 59 Celina
Ref: Dr. Felix Brych
Att: 38,193
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