The Blues looked to be easing to victory after goals from Sergio Aguero and James Milner opened up a 2-0 lead at the break, but the hosts mounted a spirited fight-back in the second-half and with the help of a baffling late penalty award, earned an unlikely draw - a result that only really benefits AS Roma and Bayern Munich.
There are still nine points to play for and Roma’s 7-1 home drubbing by Bayern Munich has made the situation slightly better, but City will surely have to win all three of the final three group games to end in the top two.
There was a surreal feeling as the players came out to a freezing and, of course, empty Arena Kimkhi as CSKA serve out their Uefa punishment for a series of punishable offences which included racist chanting.
With many of the City players probably not experiencing an atmosphere like this since their youth or reserve team football days, it was hard to gauge which team, if any, would benefit from the measures
...CSKA v City..
Two defeats from two games suggested CSKA may be the group bunnies, it was worth remembering the Russians sit in second in their Premier League and came into this game on the back of a 6-0 win – their sixth in succession.
For the Blues, no matter what the domestic form of the opposition, the scenario was simple – the English champions had to fly back to Manchester with three points safely banked. Any other result would surely make the task of finishing in the top two in Group E all but impossible.
The early exchanges suggested this would be anything but as first Musa and the Tosic both went close with long range shots in the first ten minutes, but City gradually worked their way into the game and Yaya Toure pass and then volleyed the ball inches wide.
With CSKA beginning to rock as David Silva and Toure started to pick holes in their defence but they lasted until the 29th minute when the Blues deservedly went ahead. Silva threaded the ball through to Edin Dzeko who drew the keeper off his line before slipping in strike partner Aguero who rolled the ball into the empty net.
Nine minutes later and the game – and CSKA’s hopes of progressing from this group – were as good as over as a superb City move tore the Russians’ defence to shreds as Dzeko fed Aleks Kolarov, his cross found Zabaleta who headed back to Aguero and Kun’s low shot-cum-cross was slid home by Milner.
Moments later and Dzeko was fouled in the box as Kolarov’s low cross came in and Milner smacked the loose ball against the post, but alas no penalty was forthcoming on this occasion – let’s hope we didn’t use our season’s quota against Spurs at the weekend!
It was hard to see any way back into the game for CSKA who had offered little outside of those first few minutes, but City sat back on their lead, perhaps too comfortable if anything and the hosts sniffed just the merest chance.
The Blues were less dynamic and one or two sloppy passes were creeping in, so when a poor Yaya Toure clearance found the feet of a CSKA midfielder, so began the move that ended with Seydou Doumbia sliding the ball home on 65 minutes.
CSKA were back in the game and from a position of superiority and calm, City were suddenly hanging on somewhat.
If the Blues had learned anything from the three previous Champions League campaigns, surely now was the time to use it and ensure this game was effectively closed out
...CSKA v City...
Yet there was still a little too much urgency going forward from Pellegrini’s men, forcing the play and losing possession when simply holding the ball and making CSKA chase a little more might have been more effective - so when yet another poor clearance saw the ball end up back in the City box, it gave Doumbia the chance to do dive theatrically under the challenge of Kolarov and the referee awarded a penalty.
It was a poor decision from the official, but it mattered little because Natcho dispatched the ball past Joe Hart to make it 2-2.
It seemed incredible that the Blues hadn’t been able to go on and win this game by a considerable margin and City now face an uphill task to make the knock-out stages - but three wins from three in the remaining games could still be enough.
City v CSKA
The night will belong to us when City face CSKA Moscow on Wednesday 5 November in the UEFA Champions League.
CSKA Moscow fans are not permitted to attend this fixture so we will have the entire Etihad Stadium available for home supporters only.
To celebrate this rare opportunity to pack both ends of the stadium with home supporters, fans who buy one ticket will receive an additional ticket completely free. This offer applies to fans who have already bought tickets for this match, and those looking to buy a ticket now.
Get yours now here.
