- Julian Alvarez scored twice in Man City’s 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade
- Ally McCoist hailed striker’s ‘superb’ Champions League performance
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ” Everything starts ”
Julian Alvarez’s performance in Manchester City’s 3-1 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade was praised by Ally McCoist, after the Argentine scored twice at the Etihad.
Man City fought back from a goal down to beat the Serbian champions in their opening Champions League group game.
Alvarez brought Man City level in the opening minutes of the second half after Osman Bukari gave the visitors a shock lead.
The Argentine collected a through ball from Erling Haaland, before rounding Red Star goalkeeper Omri Glazer and scoring from a narrow angle.
Alvarez was then credited with Man City’s second goal after Glazer hit the striker’s free-kick into the net in the 60th minute, before Rodri added a third for the defending champions.
Julian Alvarez scored twice for Man City in their Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade
The Argentine striker rounded goalkeeper Omri Glazer to score a superb equalizer
Ally McCoist suggested Alvarez’s performances continue to go under the radar at Man City
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McCoist suggested that Alvarez’s performances still tend to be overlooked compared to those of his Man City teammates.
This is despite the Argentine becoming, last season, the first player to win the World Cup and a European treble in the same campaign.
“I thought he looked great tonight,” McCoist said on TNT Sports.
“It’s a crazy thing to say, but I think he’s gone a bit under the radar despite the trophies he’s won over the last two years.
“What I meant was if you think of the key figures at Man City, you think of the goalkeeper, (Ruben) Dias, Rodri, Haaland.
“Alvarez might not immediately come to mind.
“In such form it would be very difficult to stay away from that side.
“The way they move the front three, with (Phil) Foden and (Jeremy) Doku when he came on, they are all very comfortable switching.
“He is becoming a very important and key player for City.”
The 23-year-old has scored four goals in eight appearances at the start of his second season at Man City, having scored against Newcastle and Fulham in the Premier League.
Alvarez has scored 21 goals and provided nine assists in his 57 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side to date.