Pep Guardiola pleased with Manchester City response against Red Star Belgrade but Bernardo Silva added to lengthy injury list

Pep Guardiola felt his team were given a useful test after coming from behind to begin their Champions League defence with a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade.

The holders were stunned when the Serbian champions claimed a shock lead on the stroke of half-time through Osman Bukari in Tuesday's Group G clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Yet as they did in the Premier League at West Ham last weekend, they hit back to win after the break, this time with two goals from Julian Alvarez and one from Rodri.

City manager Guardiola said: "At the end, going in at half-time 1-0, after what we’ve done that’s nice – after winning the treble we need to be the type of champions who prove to ourselves that we are able to make a comeback.

"In this situation it’s nice to prove it. In both games we played incredible and immediately at the start of the second half.

"We have things to improve in general but that’s really, really good."

The downside for City was the loss of Bernardo Silva shortly before half-time with an unspecified injury.

Guardiola said: "I didn't speak with the doctors but apparently for the next games he will not be able to play."

The Portuguese joins an injury list that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic.

Guardiola said: "When we have five important players – really, really important players – injured, to sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is.

"We cannot have the salaries and budgets for transfers to have 55 players. It would be chaos for the clubs and they would be bankrupt. Sometimes it happens."

Pep Guardiola felt his Manchester City side played well but didn't take their chances in the early stages against Crvena Zvezda, aka Red Star Belgrade
Match report: