Borussia Monchengladbach have come from behind to lead Manchester City 2-1 at half time of the final Champions League Group D fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
City, already through to the last 16, knew that victory would see them top the group if Juventus failed to beat Sevilla, but their susceptibility in defence was on show in the opening minutes as Fabian Johnson fired over before Julian Korb wasted a good opportunity when he was played onside by Nicolas Otamendi.
With the German side on top in the early stages City's only outlet was Kevin De Bruyne, but after the midfielder had flashed a low ball across the face of goal which evaded everyone, the hosts took the lead somewhat against the run of play after a quarter of an hour.
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A fine move down the left flank resulted in Raheem Sterling cleverly back-heeling the ball into the path of David Silva, and the Spaniard took a touch before smashing an effort high past Yann Sommer from a tight angle to break the deadlock.
If the home fans thought that goal would put their side in control, however, they were proved wrong within three minutes as Johnson tore through the City defence and squared for Korb to lash a half-volley past Joe Hart and restore parity almost instantly.
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Still without injured captain Vincent Kompany, Manuel Pellegrini's side were wide open at the back, and Hart was relieved to see no Borussia player on hand to turn home Oscar Wendt's ball across goal midway through the half as the German side continued to threaten.
Playing as City's lone striker, Sterling was a key threat for City and after he just could not make contact with Aleksandar Kolarov's ball across goal he fired over the bar as the hosts looked to wrestle the initiative from the visitors.
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City had an opportunity to take the lead when Fabian Delph just could not meet Sterling's cross before Kolarov drilled into the side-netting, but with three minutes left before the whistle the German side completed the first-half turnaround.
Wendt carried the ball down the left as the away side counter-attacked, and his low cross was helped on by Lars Stindl for Raffael to convert a simple finish from close range and leave City's chances of topping the group in serious jeopardy at the break.
Tom Nightingale
