Manchester City's chances of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages suffered a blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw by CSKA Moscow this evening.
The Premier League champions, who are still without a win after three games of this year's competition, took a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and James Milner.
They offered little in the second half, though, and a Seydou Doumbia tap-in and Bibras Natcho penalty earned the hosts a point.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the match in front of a deserted Arena Khimki.
Match statistics
CSKA
Shots: 13
On target: 4
Possession: 45%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 8
MAN CITY
Shots: 11
On target: 4
Possession: 55%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 11
Was the result fair?
Probably not. City were cruising at 2-0 and then had a blatant penalty waved away before half time that should have also resulted in Sergei Ignashevich being sent off. However, the decision didn't go their way and City did very little after half time. CSKA were much more urgent and they will feel that they deserved a point, even if the winning penalty was certainly a soft one.
CSKA's performance
The Russian side started brightly, but once City scored their first they faded drastically and were perhaps lucky to only be two down at the break. Manager Leonid Slutsky knew that their hopes of qualifying were being extinguished and moved to a 4-4-2 formation with the introduction of Doumbia, who scored the first before winning the penalty for the equaliser.
Man City's performance
Once they found their feet and got used to playing at an empty stadium, Manuel Pellegrini's side started to show their quality and the likes of David Silva and Aguero started to have more and more influence. Silva's perfect pass over the top freed Edin Dzeko to set up Aguero for the second and it was more exquisite passing that led to Milner's second ever Champions League goal.
The first half was just what Pellegrini would have wanted, but it was the opposite after the interval. There was little desire and barely any threat going forward. Careless mistakes were made too and players that are usually so reliable on the ball were wasteful in possession. Yes, they should have had a penalty and a numerical advantage for the second half and yes the penalty was soft, but the second-half slump is inexcusable.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Ahmed Musa: It's hard to reward any of City's players with this after their display in the second 45, so we're going to credit Nigerian international Musa for his tireless running in the first half as a lone striker and the clever run and pass that got CSKA back in the game.
Biggest gaffe
When Dzeko was brought down for what should have been a penalty the ball rolled across goal and into the path of Milner, who smacked the post from a tight angle. There was a rash challenge approaching and the angle was tight, but he still should have found the net from so close in.
Referee performance
Hungary's Istvan Vad did not shower himself in glory tonight. How he failed to give City a penalty in the first half but then decided that Aleksandar Kolarov's challenge on Doumbia was a penalty is a mystery. You can see why he gave CSKA a spot kick, but not how he's ignored the challenge from behind by Ignashevich on Dzeko.
What next?
CSKA: Next up is a trip to FC Ufa in the Russian league, while their fourth Champions League match sees them travel to the Etihad to again face City on Wednesday, November 5.
Man City: Pellegrini's side travel to West Ham United on Saturday lunchtime and then have home league games against Newcastle United and city rivals Manchester United before the visit of CSKA early next month.
Pascal Lemesre
