Man City 1-1 Real Madrid
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City are out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second successive season after they were held to a draw by Real Madrid at the Etihad.
Roberto Mancini's side needed victory to maintain any hope of progress but fell behind to Karim Benzema's early goal.
Real threatened to run riot in the early stages as former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo - given a predictably hostile reception - saw an effort scrambled off the line and Sami Khedira wasted three opportunities.
Mancini's three-man defensive system was being easily exploited by Real but City finally came into the game when the necessary alterations were made after the break.
Sergio Aguero equalised from the spot after 74 minutes following a foul by Alvaro Arbeloa, who was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, but even a late rally could not bring the goal they needed.
City are rooted to the bottom of Group D without a win and only three points from five games so the Premier League champions can have no complaints about making yet another early exit from the Champions League.
Mancini's own record in the competition, both with City and Inter Milan, also remains a disappointment and harsh lessons will have to be learned if a third venture into the tournament is to bring better results.
Jose Mourinho's La Liga champions were not wholly convincing and he marched off at the final whistle without the traditional handshake with counterpart Mancini, who had moved towards the edge of the pitch to console his players.
City's task was arduous enough without conceding yet another of the cheap goals that have scarred this disappointing European campaign.
Real were ahead inside 10 minutes when Angel Di Maria crossed from the right, leaving Benzema to apply the easiest of finishes as veteran defender Maicon switched off, leaving Mancini shaking his head in disgust in the technical area.
City were in danger of being torn apart as Real swept forward to put City's back three under pressure, with midfield man Khedira twice unable to provide the end product to Ronaldo's fine approach work.
Ronaldo also had a shot scrambled off the line and City keeper Joe Hart had to race out at the feet of Khedira as Real looked to put the game out of reach in an impressive opening phase.
City, however, offered moments of hope. Aguero was a threat and had a shot pushed over by Iker Casillas while Maicon suggested he would be of more service in an attacking sense rather than defensively with a positive run that ended with a finish poked just wide.
Mancini made a switch at half-time, sending on Javi Garcia for Aleksandar Kolarov. He also reverted to a more orthodox back four. It prompted a far more positive approach after the break and he further added to City's attacking resources by sending on Carlos Tevez for Samir Nasri on the hour.
It took a remarkable block from Casillas to deny City an equaliser when Aguero stole in on Maicon's deflected cross. A goal looked certain but the goalkeeper clawed the Argentine's effort away.
City's increased endeavour was rewarded with an equaliser and red card for Arbeloa with 16 minutes left. Aguero went down as the pair tangled and once the former Liverpool defender had been sent off the Argentine easily scored from the spot.
As the game entered five minutes of stoppage time, which was greeted with sarcastic applause by Mourinho, Tevez was inches away from getting on the end of another astute pass from the outstanding David Silva.
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The way they leave every 3rd seat empty so their enthusiastic, deafening, local supporters can move around in comfort, is truly groundbreaking.
@ 162 I'm glad people are finally starting to come round to what I've been saying for ages. Hart is a promising young keeper, nothing more. He makes countless mistakes but these are brushed under the carpet by the media. Conversely, de gea and equally talented keeper, has good performances brushed under the carpet.
I dont think Dortmund will give them the chance
Citeh fans talking about sacking Mancini just because they fail to get through in the CL after he last season won the Prem for the first time in almost 50 years for the club and still top of the Prem this year.
NO CLASS, NO HISTORY, CLUELESS
See this is where you look silly, u bang on about history etc, then u bang on about 1 year, it doesnt just go on the previous year as the TOP clubs do have slips from time to time, i think the amount of finals/semis etc Utd have been in over recent years shows they are very much a european giant!
Where is ur reply to post 212, as he said celtic have done alright!
So being the first English team to win the European cup counts for nothing then? they were flag bearers then and still are now!
I love all this 'fair' seeding talk, its not unfair at all, Utd have EARNT their right to be top seed, City are new to europe and need to earn their right to be seeded with the elite! there is nothing fairer than EARNING your right im afraid!!
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Clubs like Celtic and Ajax still manage to make a fist of it: Celtic's squad is worth £18m about four times less that of Benfica/Spartak about 14 times less than what City have spent on their squad. The team was put together 2 seasons ago. Ajax will be no different. Both 4th seeds punching above their weight. City have no credible excuses
So tell me SeeDubya, who do you support?
I support Liverpool and despite having watched my team win five European Cup / Champions League titles, I will be hoping we win the Europa League this year. A trophy is a trophy. That is the whole point of the game.
Fourth place and youre straight into the euro song contest !