MANCHESTER CITY’S journey to East Germany was badly disrupted on Tuesday by storms over Saxony.

But the road to the knock-out stages looks likely to be much more straight-forward for the holders.

Alvarez scored City’s second with a wonder strike

Doku added a third in stoppage time

Haaland wasted a catalogue of chances

Julian Alvarez climbed off the bench to score a delicious late winner for Pep Guardiola’s men against their regular Champions League foes.

The Argentine grabbed a feed from Jeremy Doku and curled in a stunning goal from the outside of the box only five minutes after coming in to replace the other goal scorer Phil Foden.

The World Cup winner then returned the favour in stoppage time – sending Doku away to put the result beyond doubt.

His fellow forward Erling Haaland owes both of them a big thank you.

For once against his favourite opponents, the Norwegian had a night to forget – wasting a catalogue of chances which could have proved costly.

But instead the treble winners have maximum points from two matches and their toughest game of the group stage is out of the way.

City have lift off in the defence of the crown they won in June.

This is the third successive season these two teams have met in this competition.

City sit comfortably top of their group 

Leaving Pep the chance to focus more heavily on the Premier League 

Guardiola sprang something of a surprise in his team selection by playing youngster Rico Lewis as a midfielder alongside Rodri.

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That meant Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Kalvin Phillips – who cost around £125 million between them – were all on the bench.

But it seemed to work a treat as he helped his team completely boss the opening exchanges – and was even involved in their first big chance.

Julian Álvarez 1 goal 1 assist,  Jeremy Doku 1 goal 1 assist

Phil Foden 1 goal, Rico Lewis 1 assist