City can regain focus in Italy

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- By Mark Gleeson

Manchester City can go a long way towards restoring morale and regaining form if they can beat Juventus in Italy tonight in a Champions League clash.

A single victory over Nottingham Forest in their last nine matches speaks to the problems at City and the sudden slump that has everyone, including manager Pep Guardiola, befuddled.

But Juventus are not exactly in scintillating form themselves and go into the tie in Turin on the back of four successive draws.

They are down in sixth place in the Serie A standings, seven points adrift of leaders Atalanta.

This match presents City with a chance to begin turning around their fortunes, even if their European exploits this season have been poor.

Not only have City shipped seven goals in their last two Champions League games - having kept a clean sheet in their first three matches this campaign - but taking just one point from those outings has left them with eight points on the board, which is only good enough for a playoff place.