Red Star Belgrade vs Man City – Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as youngsters Micah Hamilton and Oscar Bobb hammer Pep Guardiola’s side in front

This was Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Manchester City travelled to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. 

A record-breaking night for Guardiola's side

Victory in Belgrade is Man City’s eighth consecutive Champions League victory – the highest for any English side in the competition in history.

FT: Red Star Belgrade 2-3 Man City

Red Star left it late, and they could have given Man City an almighty scare – but Guardiola’s side leave Belgrade with a perfect group stage record.

GOAL! Red Star's hard graft pays off (Katai 90')

They’ve been pushing, and eventually, Red Star get their second!

Katai – who came close with their last attempt – has an eye for an inswinging corner and launches himself at the shot, heading the ball down past Ortega.

Can they spoil Man City’s party and get a third?

88 min: Red Star Belgrade 1-3 Man City

Red Star are determined to give Man City a poke in the eye, and nearly do when only some breakneck defending from the visitors keeps out a late attempt.

There’s a brief penalty check, but VAR waves away the question of a potential handball. Thank goodness.

GOAL! Phillips is on target! (Phillips 84')

No wavering here – Phillips hammers the penalty home after sending Glazer the wrong way, puffing out the back netting.

It’s an odd way to get it, but you can’t help but be cheered by Phillips applauding the travelling fans for sticking by him.

PENALTY! Red Star 1-2 Manchester City

Hamilton looks to surge through two bullish Red Star defenders, and manfully draws a strong penalty claim as he’s tugged to the ground.

It’s Phillips who steps up…

81 min: Red Star 1-2 Manchester City

Whistles a plenty as the game comes to a brief half to tend to an injured Man City player, and when the game restarts, Red Star are keen to stay on the front foot.

Guardiola, meanwhile, opts to send on Silva for Nunes to inject some command back into the tie. He’s in no mood to see his unbeaten run in the competition this season come to an end, regardless of qualification.

GOAL! There's life in Red Star yet! (Hwang 75')

Here come the flares! Eye off the ball after a substitution, Hwang accepts a perfect neat pass running into the box and fires across Ortega, who doesn’t have a hope!

Phillips loses his man there, as Red Star took control in a dangerous area.

The crowd’s volume turns up to 11 – game on!

70 min: Red Star 0-2 Manchester City

Red Star give Man City their first major scare of the match, as they line up a shot squarely in the centre of the box which John Stones can only force just off target.

WATCH: Bobb nets Man City's second

GOAL! Oscar Bobb gets his first in Man City colours! (Bobb 61')

Lewis glides up the field and sets up his team-mate on the edge of the box, who with a composure which belies his years, fires at Glazer and lands his shot inch-perfectly in the bottom-left corner.

Another excellent goal cooked up in Man City’s academy.

56 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Phillips goes to ground as Olayinka sneaks up and snatches the ball off him on the edge of the Man City box.

It is a foul, rather than a strong opportunity for Red Star to get an equaliser, and it’s unfortunately Olayinka’s last touch of the ball – he’s now swapped for Lucic.

Red Star also swap Ndiaye for Mijatovic, and Kanga for Katai.

52 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Phillips is the first Man City man in the book after he stands firm to tumble a running Spajic.

51 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Stones is first to the corner, and sets up another simple save for his ‘keeper.

50 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Another pause in play, this time as Nunes goes down clutching his shoulder after attempting an aerial strike.

He’s escorted off the pitch for the time being by physios, still looking pained. His exit would be a real disappointment.

When play resumes, Red Star shoot away and force Ortega into two quick-thinking saves. Man City have a lot to be grateful for – but not yet: corner incoming.

47 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

City waste no time digging into Red Star’s half, and Hamilton has another shot at goal, this time as he sprints into the box and curls the ball towards Glazer.

His strike goes just wide, but it’s a lovely set-up, which sees him ably assisted by Gomez, taking the heat off him by drawing buzzing Red Star defenders away.

Second-half: Guardiola makes changes

Grealish, whose earlier pain probably wasn’t helped by being steamrollered by Spajic, is off, and Phil Foden is on.

Let’s get back underway.

Man City youngster handed surprise start in Champions League clash at Red Star Belgrade… as picture emerges of him with Pep Guardiola as a ballboy in 2017

Hamilton might be making his senior debut for Guardiola tonight, but he and his Catalan manager go way back.

Read Mail Sport’s report below.

Half-time: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Grealish might be sore, but Man City won’t be. They haven’t turned the screws yet, but are a goal up on hostile soil, having blooded one of their academy stars in dramatic style.

Not a bad 45 minutes, by my measure.

45 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Grealish is hacked down by a full-bodied challenge from Spajic, who gets a yellow card for his trouble.

Just one minute of added time.

44 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

A sliding pass through the centre to Nunes sees the Portugual international drive up the pitch, and locate Hamilton. At first it looks like he might replicate a version of his earlier strike, but he’s picking out Bobb. The forward can’t pick it up, and although the ball stays in play for Grealish, he can’t bury the ball in the back of the net.

41 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Ortega gets a minimal workout as the ball is fired straight at him from a quick passge of Red Star attacking play, but it’s an easy catch for Ederson’s understudy.

39 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Nunes wavers as he trips into the box from the right, and sends a good-looking pass destined for Bobb too far ahead of the youngster.

But they get another chance now, Grealish forging a path forward from the left, only to find himself tangled up with Djiga when he goes to make a cross, winning Man City a corner.

Kovacic sends it in, but Grealish can do little with his contact, knocking the ball out of contention for a goal kick.

37 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Guardiola, on the touchline, looks frustrated as Lewis punts a ball out to his manager in a misfired pass.

Red Star have a peppy front line, and flood forward once again with the advantage, but as things stand, they’re unable to seriously challenge the visitors.

33 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

A gorgeous chance for Man City, as Grealish sends the ball skittering down the left. Nunes is waiting in the box, and connects well, but can only find the side netting. He’s been a live wire this evening, and will be hungry to up his tally.

30 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Ortega again responds well to an excellent Red Star run as Kanga goes sprinting after a long loose ball. He sends in a long optimistic cross from the right, but the Man City keeper can snatch it before any of Kanga’s team-mates can cause any trouble.

27 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

Stones gives the ball away clumsily, and Red Star, who have been buzzing around the Man City box, look to pass.

The best the can muster is a throw-in, with Nedeljkovic sends up the field. Picking it off, Olayinka sets the defender up in the box, and he has the host’s first chance, a looping strike which lifts up over the crossbar.

24 min: Red Star 0-1 Manchester City

No early lead this time for Red Star, who could well end up on the wrong side of a famous scoreline. Man City have been far from their razor-sharp best, but drew first blood with relative ease.

GOAL! A magic moment for the Man City debutant! (Hamilton 19')

What a moment for Hamilton! Less than 20 minutes into his debut, and he has his goal!

Man City have been low on intensity, but Hamilton was on a one-man mission as he slipped nimbly through the right, into the box, and then lays off beautifully at the near post.

Glazer has no chance with the force of the shot – it’s an excellent goal.

17 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Man City probe around the edge of the Red Star box, but can’t string together a strong enough advance.

Off the hook, Hwang tries to capitalise and catch Ortega off his line, but the goalkeeper steps out and heads a long ball away from danger with ease.

15 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Hwang bursts forward at pace down the side as Red Star threaten for the first time, and their fans heartily respond from the stands. Stones on the edge of the box does well to shut down the burgeoning action, and when Red Star win a throw-in on the right, they can’t set up a second run.

12 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Grealish pulls up, and physios make their way onto the pitch to tend to the England star, allowing for a brief break in play.

He’s clutching his side, but seems content to play on for now.

10 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Red Star scurry forward, looking to disrupt Man City’s flustered passing to the left of Ortega’s goal, and get the chance to set up a second attack courtesy of a misplaced pass from Akanji.

But Man City are quick to muffle the budding threat.

7 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Stones tracks an aerial ball destined for the edge of the box and guides it down away from a sprinting makeshift Red Star attack.

Man City are momentarily finding it challenging to wade through deep-sitting Red Star.

5 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

The home side have had very little of the ball, and Man City carefully cling on to possession as they patiently wait for the right route out from the back to appear.

Ortega plays straight through to a sprinting Bobb, but he’s turned over by his man just inside the City box.

2 min: Red Star 0-0 Manchester City

Red Star snuck the early lead at the Etihad during the pair’s last meeting, and would love to do the same on home soil.

But already they have to contend with Nunes streaking down the right, looking for Grealish in the box, but it’s clogged up, and he can’t pick out a team-mate to finish off a ferocious burst of pace.

Kick-off!

We’re underway in Belgrade, with the hosts kicking us off.

We're moments away from kick-off in Belgrade…

Loudly chanting over the Champions League theme song, Red Star fans are in full voice.

The players stand to attention, behind an enjoyably lively row of mascots waving and posing, before shaking hands, and heading onto the pitch.

Don’t go anywhere!

Pep Guardiola speaks to TNT Sports

On tonight’s formation: ‘We will play Oscar Bobb as a striker. He plays there for the second team all the time.

On the inclusion of Phillips: ‘We are happy to see Kalvin Phillips play. He deserves it.

Guardiola added: ‘We are here to do our job as best as possible,’ and said they were keen to ‘defend our position’.

Man City are out and warming up

Welcome to Europe, Micah Hamilton

There are less intimidating places to make your debut, but Guardiola clearly feels the 20-year-old academy starlet is up to the challenge.

Hamilton made the bench for the Champions League tie against Young Boys, and for Man City’s Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle, but steps up tonight after captaining City’s Elite Youth Development side.

The winger is expected to play on the right tonight, with Oscar Bobb leading the line, but Hamilton is also comfortable in central or attacking midfield.

Preparations have begun at the home of 1991 European champions…

Could Red Star receive a boost from their formidable home record?

It may not extend to their European forays, but the Belgrade club is truly worthy of seeing their ground dubbed a ‘fortress’.

The side currently sit atop the Superliga – tracked closely by ever-present crosstown rivals Partizan, behind them only on goal difference.

TEAM NEWS: How Red Star Belgrade line-up

RED STAR: Glazer, Nedeljkovic, Djiga, Spajic, Dragovic, Kanga, Mijailovic, Hwang In-beom, Bukar, Ndiaye, Olayinka

Substitutes: Degenek, Stamenic, Katai, Krasso, Milunovic, Kangwa, Mijatovic, Rodic, Vasiljevic, Lucic, Kabic, Mitrovic

Trouble on the streets of Belgrade

There’s likely to be a heavy police presence at Stadium Rajko Mitic, after Red Star’s notorious ultra group, the Delije, attacked fans in Belgrade last night.

Authorities were on the hunt of masked attackers who allegedly ambushed fans the night before the tie, with around 20 travelling fans caught up in the fracas.

The time is now, Kalvin Phillips

Spare a thought for the midfielder, handed just his second start of the season in what some might call a meaningless European tie just a week after Guardiola said that he felt ‘sorry’ for the lack of action his midfielder had seen.

However, the opportunity is a positive one – the chance to show off in the European top flight may not go the whole way towards convincing his manager of playing time, but clubs eyeing Phillips over a potential January loan move will no doubt be tuning in with interest.

TEAM NEWS: Just the NINE changes for Manchester City

Group G – as it stands

1. Man City – 15pts

2. Leipzig – 9pts

3. Young Boys – 4pts

4. Red Star Belgrade – 1pt

Not the most heartening reading for a Red Star side preparing to stare down the English treble winners.

Pep Guardiola confirms he will rotate his Manchester City side for their Champions League trip to Red Star Belgrade

Can the serial Serbian champions pull off the mother of all upsets at home?

One thing that could smooth passage is a dearth of regular starters, as Guardiola rolls the dice and gets some Champions League experience in his raft of young, underutilised talents.

Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan has the full report, below.

Good afternoon!

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage as Man City end their Champions League group stage journey against Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital.

Dead rubber? Nothing of the sort! Guardiola’s side may have romped away with the top spot in Group G thanks to a blemish-free campaign thus far, but the bottom-place hosts could still a mount a great escape into the Europa League if they win, score more than two, and results go their way in Leipzig…

We’ll be kicking off at the famously welcoming Stadium Rajko Mitic at 5.45pm, but stick around for all the team news and build-up ahead of time.

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