Big-spending Manchester City were frustrated by a strong defensive performance from Serie A giants Juventus, having recovered from going a goal behind early in this Europa League Group A encounter at Eastlands.

City keeper Joe Hart uncomfortably dealt with early long-range efforts from Vincenzo Iaquinta and veteran genius Alessandro Del Piero.

And when Iaquinta let fly from fully 30 yards, his dipping shot slightly deceived Hart and ended up in the net.

City were slow to gain momentum but equalised on 37 minutes, Adam Johnson running onto Yaya Toure’s pass and beating Juve keeper Alex Manninga with a low right-foot shot.

The hosts dominated possession in the early stages of the second half.

But despite some slick passing, they were restricted to efforts from the edge of the box, the best of which came from Johnson and Gareth Barry.

Del Piero served a warning that Juve could still nick a winner when he flashed a 25-yard free-kick just past Hart’s left-hand post on 66 minutes.

And with four minutes remaining, he nearly snatched victory, firing in another free-kick from the same distance, beating Hart all ends up, hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing down right on the goalline.