Champions League holders Manchester City made a winning start to the defence of their title as Julian Alvarez scored twice to spearhead a second-half comeback which defeated Red Star Belgrade 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Red Star, Serbian champions for the past six years, have fine European pedigree having won the elite competition in 1991, and they took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time when Osman Bukari's strike was allowed to stand after a VAR review for offside (45).

But Pep Guardiola's side - who recorded 22 shots during a one-sided first half - rallied to ensure their would be no upset as Alvarez combined with Erling Haaland to round Omri Glazer and score within two minutes of the restart.

The Argentine would celebrate a second when Glazer, whose heroics had kept Red Star level, inexplicably punched the Argentine's curling free-kick into his own net (60).

Rodri, the matchwinner against Inter Milan in June's final and who Guardiola later described as the best holding midfielder in the world, produced a trademark finish (73) to seal the victory as City extended their unbeaten run at home in the Champions League to 27 matches.

City's victory was marred by the sight of Bernardo Silva being replaced just before half-time with an apparent hamstring injury.

The winger joins a lengthening injury list which currently also includes Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish.

"We have five important players injured," Guardiola told the club's official website. "Sustaining that for a long time will be difficult but it is what it is.

"We cannot have 35 players because that will be chaos for the clubs and go bankrupt.

"Unfortunately it's long time for Kevin, John didn't play, maybe Kova is coming back, Jack has a week or 10 days."

The City boss added: "We are in trouble but I'm not going to say 'oh, we have a lot of injuries'. It is what it is."