On a frustrating evening under the floodlights, the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw against a side that made a mockery of their Pot 4 seeding.
All is not lost, however, and the Italians will no doubt be a thorn in Bayern Munich’s side when the teams meet in back-to-back Group E games over the next month or so – but whatever the outcome of those games City must take six points from their duels with CSKA Moscow.
City needed to race out of the blocks in this encounter with the knowledge Bayern had already moved on to six points after their 1-0 win over CSKA earlier in the day.
Anything less than a win over the Italians – with a trip to Rome still to come – would give the Blues a mountain to climb yet again in this competition
...City 1 Roma 1...
A high-octane start was needed to shake the Serie A side out of their stride and hopefully disrupt any game plan they arrived in Manchester with – and that’s exactly what happened as the Blues found themselves ahead with just four minutes played.
As a right-flank cross came in towards Joe Hart well beaten.
It was a reminder that the Serie A leaders are one of European football’s most in-form sides and a rapier break forward by Gervinho shortly after served further warning that Roma were beginning to find their feet – and holes in the City defence
...City 1 Roma 1...
Finally, the inevitable when, on 23 minutes, veteran Francesco Totti was played through on goal and the Italy legend calmly lifted the ball over the in-rushing Hart to level the scores and become the oldest goal-scorer in Champions League history in the process.
City had cause to feel aggrieved on 38 minutes when Jesus Navas’ cross hit the arm of a prostrate Roma defender, deflecting the ball behind the incoming City strikers – but a well-placed Bjorn Kulpers waved appeals away.
Roma picked up where they’d left off after the break with Miralem Pjanic going mightily close twice within a couple of minutes as he first tried to flick the ball home from close range – but fluffed his lines – then from 20 yards with a vicious dipping drive that went inches past the post.
Sub James Milner went close with a purposeful drive into the box and low drive and an intricate move between Yaya Toure and Fernandinho ended with the latter denied just as he was about to pull the trigger as City attempted to reassert some authority.
Then Frank Lampard stung the fingers of Roma keeper Lukasz Skorupski with a trademark pile-driver from 25 yards as the urgency to find a second goal grew, but all the while the Italians looked dangerous on the counter with Maicon’s low cross hacked clear in timely fashion by Pablo Zabaleta.
And City kept on knocking at the door with Silva and Lampard both going within a few feet of finding the target – but the elusive winner just wouldn’t come leaving City wondering what might have been had the visitors been reduced to ten men so early in the game - as they clearly should have been.
