Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Navas (Milner), Toure, Fernandinho, Silva; Aguero (Jovetic), Dzeko (Lampard)
Roma:Skorupski; Maicon (Torosidis), Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa , Cole; Pjanic , Nainggolan , Keita ; Florenzi (Holebas), Totti (Iturbe), Gervinho.
Manchester City’s miseries in the Champions League continued as they could not overcome a sturdy Roma side that held their mega rich opponents to a 1-1 draw at Etihad.
Man City took a surprise lead to a Sergio Aguero penalty inside 5 minutes as Roma were coming to grips with the pace and style of the English champions. City made a blazing start to the game and looked like a team on mission.
The Italian side soon came into own and they got themselves an equalizer via their ‘Capitano’ Francesco Totti. Totti who chipped the ball over English keeper Joe Hart, became the oldest scorer in UEFA Champions league at 38 years and 3 days. Roma legend broke the record which was previously held by Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs.
It was end to end stuff throughout the 90 minutes at the Etihad as both the teams were on the lookout for that all elusive winner. Roma had their chances in the first half but were denied by Hart.
Ashley Cole returned to England as he made his first appearance on English soil after moving to Italy. He remarkably led the Roman defense as they kept the barrage of City attacks late in the second half at bay.
Manuel Pellegrini summoned his trump card in Frank Lampard in second half to get his side’s faltering campaign back on track. The Englishman came agonisingly close to give the home side all the three points but was denied by Roma’s second choice keeper Skorupski.
Both sides had their fair share if chances and a draw seemed a legit result at the end of the day. Although City fans can take some respite in witnessing Totti break their city rivals' iconic player's record at their home.
MOTM- Miralem Pjanic
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