Ten-man Manchester City fought back from a goal down on two occasions to hold Crystal Palace to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park in the Premier League, although the result is another huge setback to their hopes of a title five-peat.
Twice Oliver Glasner's side went ahead through Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, and twice Man City restored parity through Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis, the latter of whom was then dismissed in the closing stages to extinguish the champions' hopes of finding a coveted winner.
Arriving in the capital with a reduced set of options again - one glance at City's youthful bench told the whole story - the holders were caught cold after just four minutes, when Munoz called the visitors' offside bluff.
City responded well to going behind in an attacking sense, but Guardiola's side were also being carved open at will defensively by the plucky Eagles, who could count themselves unfortunate to not double their lead on a couple of occasions.
At the other end, though, a questionable piece of goalkeeping allowed Haaland to level on the half-hour mark with his 13th goal of the Premier League season, which also saw the Norwegian prolong his streak of scoring in all of his top-flight appearances against Crystal Palace.
However, Haaland's aerial excellence was negated by Kyle Walker's aerial inferiority, as the Man City captain inexplicably allowed Lacroix to rise above him and head home a Will Hughes corner to restore the hosts' lead early in the second half.
A Sky Blues full-back soon stole the spotlight for the right reasons, though, as Lewis picked out the top corner with panache to draw Guardiola's side level once more, before finding himself on the wrong end of a highly contentious call.
Already on a yellow card, Lewis was then sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul on Trevoh Chalobah, although it could be argued that the City product was the one that was felled by his Eagles counterpart.
Both Guardiola and the City players made no bones about their feelings at full time, as the Sky Blues missed the chance to rise above Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League table; they are now eight points below Liverpool having played a game more than the leaders.
A point for Palace does not majorly aid them in their fight against the drop either; the Eagles occupy 16th place in the standings with just a four-point gap to the drop zone.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel Munoz goal vs. Man City (4th min, Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City)
How to expose a high line 101! Palace battle to retain possession in the centre of the field, and Hughes whips an exquisite curled pass through to Munoz, as Lewis tries to play offside.
Unfortunately for the youngster, Walker is just keeping Munoz level on the opposite side, and the right-back takes one touch before firing in a low effort underneath Stefan Ortega.
Munoz has now scored in back-to-back home games, Man City have conceded the first goal in seven different Premier League home games this term - more than any other side.
Erling Haaland goal vs. Crystal Palace (30th min, Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City)
© IconSport
A penny for Palace thoughts; the Eagles have wasted a couple of golden chances to double their lead, and they have been ruthlessly pegged back.
Matheus Nunes sends in a terrific inswinging cross from the left, which Dean Henderson comes out to meet without really making an attempt to claim, and Haaland rises above the goalkeeper and Marc Guehi to loop a header into the exposed corner.
Maxence Lacroix goal vs. Man City (56th min, Crystal Palace 2-1 Man City)
© Imago
Palace's defenders are shining bright under the Selhurst lights, Man City's not so much!
Hughes - who has been conducting the Palace orchestra all afternoon - sends in a beautiful corner, and Lacroix easily rises above a stagnant Walker to power a brilliant header high into the net.
Walker's nightmare afternoon continues, Glasner's Eagles are soaring.
Rico Lewis goal vs. Crystal Palace (68th min, Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City)
© Imago
A few flashes of quality just when the champions needed it!
Kevin De Bruyne plays an intelligent first-time pass into Bernardo Silva, who in turn feeds the charging Lewis, and the youngster beats Henderson all ends up with a wonderful Kylian Mbappe-esque finish into the near top corner.
Rico Lewis red card vs. Crystal Palace (84th min, Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City)
From hero to zero in controversial circumstances!
City goalscorer Lewis was booked not long after equalising, and the 20-year-old picks up a second yellow for a challenge on Chalobah, although there is a hint of a foul on Lewis by the Palace man rather than the other way round.
Referee Rob Jones does not see it that way, though, and as the VAR room cannot overturn yellow cards, Lewis takes the walk of shame.
MAN OF THE MATCH - WILL HUGHES
© Imago
Certainly not the flashiest name in the Palace setup, but midfield maestro Hughes showed Ilkay Gundogan, De Bruyne and Silva how it is done, especially in the first half of Saturday's thriller.
The 29-year-old's bent ball for Munoz was a thing of beauty, and his on-the-money corner for Lacroix saw him end the game with a richly-deserved pair of assists.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Crystal Palace 31%-69% Man City
Shots: Crystal Palace 12-12 Man City
Shots on target: Crystal Palace 3-4 Man City
Corners: Crystal Palace 6-8 Man City
Fouls: Crystal Palace 4-10 Man City
BEST STATS
Man City have conceded the first goal in 7️⃣ Premier League games this season - the most of any side.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 7, 2024
They go behind against Crystal Palace after just four minutes 🙃 pic.twitter.com/E8NamOJICB
Rico Lewis goals in the Prem:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 7, 2024
3 vs Crystal Palace
0 vs every other team pic.twitter.com/n1TIIhas8Y
Points dropped away by Man City in the Prem:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 7, 2024
13 — This season
13 — All of last season
They are winless in 6 away games in a row in all competitions. pic.twitter.com/SsThPOsqII
WHAT NEXT?
The reigning top-flight champions have a massive week ahead of them, as they take on Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Manchester United in next Sunday's Premier League derby.
As for Palace, Glasner's team have over a week to recuperate before they face off against Brighton & Hove Albion - in the so-called M23 derby - at the Amex on December 15.
Ben Knapton
