Francis Lee v Gornik Zabrze – 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup final
City’s only European success came back in 1970, when Joe Mercer’s all-conquering Blues won the European Cup Winners’ Cup after a 2-1 win over Polish side Gornik Zabrze.
Neil Young, who had given City the lead after 12 minutes of the final in Vienna, enhanced his big-game credentials still further when he burst through on goal just before half-time, only to be upended by Gornik goalkeeper Hubert Koska.
Francis Lee dispatched the penalty and it proved to be the winning goal. City would return home with the trophy to add to their growing collection, having won the title in ’68, the FA Cup in ’69 and the League Cup just six weeks prior to the game with Gornik.
Brian Kidd v AC Milan – 1978/79 UEFA Cup Round 3
Having drawn the first leg with Italian giants AC Milan 2-2, City brought the Rossineri back to Maine Road for the second leg and won 3-0.
Brian Kidd, who had opened the scoring the away game, did so again, setting City on their way to a famous victory.
This was a Milan side containing Alberto Bigon and a young Franco Baresi. Few teams played quite as fearlessly as City did against them and the 5-2 aggregate win is widely considered to be one of the best results the Blues have managed in European competition.
Sergio Aguero v Bayern Munich – 2014/15 Champions League group stage
Aguero had already fired a brace in this match but his third was to create the loudest roar heard at the Etihad Stadium in a long time.
With Manuel Pellegrini’s City realistically needing a win to maintain their chances of qualification from Group E, the Blues were on a high following the Argentinian’s equaliser just moments before.
As ex-City defender Jerome Boateng allowed the ball to slip away from him, Aguero seized his opportunity and knocked it past the imposing frame of Manuel Neuer to seal his hat-trick.
Just a win in Rome was needed now…
Samir Nasri v Roma – 2014/15 Champions League group stage
Samir Nasri’s strike against Roma in a crucial Champions League group-stage match was a goal worthy of winning any game.
Having beaten Bayern Munich with two late goals in the previous game to keep City’s qualification hopes alive by a thread, a win over Roma would complete the great escape and see City qualify from Group E along with the German side.
Nasri blasted one past Morgan De Sanctis from 25 yards on the hour mark, and Pablo Zabaleta added one for good measure late on.
City’s first-ever win in Italy saw them leapfrog Roma and CSKA Moscow to finish second and take their place in the last-16 of the competition. It was by the skin of their teeth, but City had just about made it.
Kevin De Bruyne v PSG – 2016 Champions League quarter-final second leg
City’s 2-2 draw in the first leg in Paris had given them the advantage ahead of the second game at the Etihad Stadium – but against a team containing the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani, anything is possible.
But City produced a fine performance, defending stoically throughout, and in Kevin De Bruyne they had a match-winner of their own.
His strike with fifteen minutes remaining completed a 3-2 aggregate win and put City into the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time - a seismic moment on which the Club are looking to build.
