Pep Guardiola’s men are sure to fight to the end to see off Los Blancos in front of a raucous Etihad support in this evening’s 20:00 (UK) kick-off.
But if they needed any inspiration, they need only look through the sky blue archives of near and distant past to see that that comebacks are just part of City’s DNA.
Below, we chart five famous revivals.
City 2-2 Gillingham - 30 May 1999
It’s a story that will live forever in Manchester City history – and not just because Noel and Liam Gallagher were there to witness it.
City were quite simply down and out in injury time at 2-0 behind to Gillingham in the Second Division Play-Off final of 1999 after goals from Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor.
The unfancied Gills were upstaging City on the grandest of stages with the clock ticking down to full-time.
But Kevin Horlock scored what felt like a consolation but it was followed up by Paul Dickov’s last-gasp leveller in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Joe Royle’s men eventually won on penalties thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of Nicky Weaver in the shoot-out.
The day certainly had an effect on then chairman David Bernstein who told us: “I must say since then, nothing has ever been quite the same for me watching sport.”
Opposition manager Tony Pulis believes the victory was a springboard for the Blues.
“City have gone from strength to strength from that point on,” he said.
“It was a massive turning point in City’s history, no doubt. If you’d have told me before that Wembley final that in 25 years time City would go and do what they have done, I’d never have believed you. I don’t think anyone would!”
Goal hero Dickov still loves talking about that wonderful Wembley win – and what it meant for him and his beloved Blues.
“I just think that every emotion that could have happened in one football match just came out,” he admitted.
“From the excitement and the nerves of playing at Wembley to the devastation of being 2-0 down, to the tipping point of Kevin’s goal and then the equaliser… I get goosebumps talking about it!
“For me to have scored the goal – not just for what it meant for me, although everyone knew it was a dream of mine to play at Wembley as a Scot – but for what it meant to everyone was amazing. I think the celebration epitomises that.”
Blackburn 1-4 City - 7 May 2000
On 7 May 2000, City travelled the short distance north to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers.
The scenario was simple - a point would secure back-to-back promotions and a place back in the Premier League after an absence of four years.
Defeat would likely allow Ipswich to sneak into the second automatic promotion berth... surely City couldn’t miss this opportunity on the final day of the season?
It all turned out well in the end but it required a superhuman effort to pick up the three points.
Things didn’t initially go to plan when Matt Jansen struck just before the break.
But even before that we rode our luck, with the hosts hitting the woodwork on several occasions and Nicky Weaver making a host of top-class saves to keep the hosts at bay and within touching distance.
Rovers were threatening to put the game – and promotion – beyond Joe Royle’s men.
But Shaun Goater’s 29th goal of the season eased the nerves just after the hour.
Christian Dailly then turned into his own net just five minutes later.
The game was put to bed soon after when Mark Kennedy stole in at the far post, before a clinical finish from Paul Dickov sealed the points.
Our clash at Ewood Park remains an iconic fixture, but not only because of our exploits on the pitch.
Indeed, thousands of City fans made the short journey north to help Royle’s team over the line, with a party atmosphere in the away end complemented by pockets of sky blue in the home end!
To top it off, a few hundred supporters without tickets were able to find a vantage point overlooking the ground from afar - a hill which has since gone down in City folklore.
As the final whistle approached, City fans started doing the conga in the away end and as supporters celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle, Royle’s heroes appeared in the Directors Box to applaud the travelling faithful in moments that will live long in the memory.
Scorer of our first goal, Goater said: “Those are memories you will never forget, it was beautiful.”
Goalkeeping hero Weaver continued: “It was the most enjoyable time I’ve ever spent on a football pitch. It was unbelievable.”
Super sub Dickov, whose energy and tenacity sparked us into life, added: “To take the club back to the Premier League from where we were and to do it with back to back promotions, the memories the lads have will stay with us all forever.”
The final word must go, though, to boss Royle who was the mastermind behind this turnaround in City fortunes.
“I loved it. I loved it,” he added.
“We’d done a double jump and let’s just say it was a great night. There wasn’t a trophy at the end of that game but it’s right up there with the best.”
Spurs 3-4 City - 4 Feb 2004
On 4 February 2004, Kevin Keegan’s Manchester City snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by staging a remarkable second half comeback to overturn a three-goal deficit with 10 men in an FA Cup fourth round replay at Tottenham Hotspur.
After a 1-1 draw in the initial tie, Keegan’s men got off to a nightmare start when Ledley King curled the hosts in front after two minutes, with Robbie Keane adding a second before Christian Ziege fired home a 25-yard free-kick to open up a three-goal lead.
City’s hopes of an unlikely comeback diminished when we went down to 10 men just before the interval.
As BBC Sport revealed in their match report: ‘There was little to hint at the epic game ahead at half-time. Spurs had shown all the attacking flair and looked to be coasting into the next round.’
But the visitors started the second period brightly as Sylvain Distin pulled one back three minutes after the break.
A volley from Paul Bosvelt gave the 10 men hope and the fightback was complete when Shaun Wright-Phillips chipped Kasey Keller with 10 minutes remaining.
But City weren’t done and in the 90th minute Jonathan Macken headed home to seal an extraordinary win.
City boss Kevin Keegan called it the greatest cup match he has ever seen. TV pundit Alan Hansen agreed.
“They’ll talk about this game long after we’ve all gone,” said Keegan as he faced the media after the pulsating tie.
Tottenham manager David Pleat admitted post-match that he was ‘shell-shocked’ after seeing his Spurs side lose in such a fashion.
Guardian journalist Kevin McCarra labelled it ‘as great a comeback as English football has ever known’ in his match report while the headline on his piece read: ‘City come back from the dead’.
Tottenham manager David Pleat admitted post-match that he was ‘shell-shocked’ after seeing his Spurs side lose in such a fashion.
Guardian journalist Kevin McCarra labelled it ‘as great a comeback as English football has ever known’ in his match report while the headline on his piece read: ‘City come back from the dead’.
Sky Sports rightly described it as ‘a thrill-a-minute FA Cup fourth round replay’.
Jon Macken whose goal won the tie revealed: “I’m just unbelievably proud to have been part of it.
“People ask what was said at half-time. Nothing really. We came out for the second half early and all we could hear was the City fans. They were fantastic. It was surreal.”
City 3-2 QPR - 13 May 2012
It’s possibly the most famous game in our history.
For what it meant – a first Premier League ever and a first top-flight title in 44 years.
But it’s the manner of the victory that will live long in the memory.
Having led from the front for much of the 2011/12 campaign, City’s form suddenly hit a sticky patch and with six matches left to play, we trailed Manchester United by eight points.
A 1-0 defeat away at Arsenal appeared to signal the end of Roberto Mancini’s side’s title hopes, but what followed was the most dramatic end to a Premier League season in history.
City won all six matches to take the trophy on goal difference.
But that really doesn’t tell the story of that final day that served up every emotion possible for those of sky blue persuasion.
Mancini’s side needed three points to clinch the prize that had eluded us since 1968 and took the lead through Pablo Zabaleta just before the interval to calm early nerves.
Djibril Cisse made it 1-1 soon after the restart before former City midfielder Joey Barton was dismissed for the visitors after a clash with Carlos Tevez.
Despite that, QPR remarkably went 2-1 ahead via Jamie Mackie’s far-post header in the 66th minute.
All looked lost.
But City scored two stoppage time goals to ensure the blue side of Manchester ended 44 years of hurt and, in the process, stopped neighbours United earning their 20th crown.
Edin Dzeko headed home the equaliser before Aguero broke into the box before powering home the winner past Paddy Kenny, to the soundtrack of Martin Tyler’s commentary, to send the Etihad into utter bedlam.
Aguero wheeled away to celebrate and that moment will forever be immortalised in a statue that now stands on the east side of our stadium.
The Argentine ace was thrilled to score the winner and turn the game around.
“When I saw it was 89 minutes, I thought okay we will lose. We have a corner and Edin Dzeko scored. I looked to Mancini and he said ‘Come on!’. We have three or four minutes more.
“I was lucky because I remember that game I played so bad. When I received the ball I knew I needed to do something and that was when I scored.
“When I was young in my country I would take off my shirt so that’s what I did.
“All the players hugged me and said ‘Sergio I love you’.”
Goalkeeper Joe Hart looks recalls that memorable match fondly with shots of him wheeling away in delight after Aguero’s wonder strike etched firmly in the memory banks.
“I look back at those photos now and it was just a really fun time to be alive.”
Captain Vincent Kompany summed up the mood and emotion perfectly.
“Everybody will remember what they were doing at that moment in time.
“It was not just one goal and one trophy, it was 40 years of suffering and one team who brought success back to Manchester City.”
City 3-2 - Aston Villa 22 May 2022
Fast forward 10 years to another title win – and another epic comeback and joyous finish.
This time, the visitors were Aston Villa managed by Steven Gerrard, who was sure to want to help his beloved Liverpool by seeing off the Blues and therefore handing the crown to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
Villa sped into a 2-0 lead midway through the second half courtesy of Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho – raising fears of the title heading the way of Anfield.
However, substitute Ilkay Gundogan headed home on 76 minutes to provide a huge lift around the Etihad.
Within two minutes Rodrigo had drawn us level, steering home a fine finish as hope resurfaced big time.
And three minutes later Gundogan capped a stunning fightback to fire home at the far post and lift the roof off the Etihad.
City boss Pep Guardiola broke down in tears at the final whistle as he helped mastermind the Blues to a fourth Premier League title in five years.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, Guardiola revealed his delight at the achievement and his pride at the comeback of his players.
“We feel like legends,” he said.
“We feel we don’t need 10 or 15 years to realise the magnitude of what we have done in this last five years, winning four Premier Leagues against this unbelievable opponent.
“Never ever in my life as a player or manager have I found a team like Liverpool. They make us a better team.”
Jack Grealish, who picked up his first Premier League crown, was overjoyed on the final whistle.
“It feels unbelievable,” he added.
“I will be honest, after 65, 70 minutes, I didn’t think it was coming.
“But I think it was the perfect way to win it in the end.”
