Man City 3-2 Bayern Munich Aguero 20 (pen), 85, 90 Alonso 40, Lewandowski 44 Red Card Benatia 20 Manchester City's Champions League season finally took off as a Sergio Aguero hat-trick gave them a 3-2 win against Bayern Munich who played for 70 minutes with ten men.
Manchester City initially went into this game feeling anything less than a victory would almost certainly mean an end to their Champions League campaign for this season.
However, in the earlier kick-off in this group CSKA Moscow and Roma drew meaning City could still have a slim chance of progression regardless of the result.
Currently bottom of Group E, City are even struggling to drop into the Europa League for third placed finishers in the group and considering they are without a win whilst opponents Bayern Munich are already assured top spot and are unbeaten in all competitions so far this campaign, a positive result was always a big ask.
Yet it all started well for the hosts for despite their German opponents looking composed on the ball and retaining possession City got a break on 20 minutes as Sergio Aguero chased a Frank Lampard through ball and was brought down by Moroccan international Medhi Benatia for a straight red card and a penalty which the victim duly despatched.
Bayern continued to play patient football and refused to be intimidated as City pressed and got their reward with two goals in the last five minutes of the first half.
Xabi Alonso deceived the City defensive wall by hitting a free kick low and hard into the bottom corner then, to a stunned silence from the home support, the ten-man Germans' took the lead.
A long cross from the right found Robert Lewandowski who out-jumped two defenders to loop a header past Joe Hart.
After the break City tried to make their extra man count but it was the visitor's who looked the more comfortable in possession frustrating the Premier League side and causing unrest amongst the home support.
Frank Lampard brought a fine save out of Manuel Neuer but overall City looked mediocre against technically superior players.
But just as it seemed Bayern would hold out for the win, Aguero came to City's rescue with two late strikes. Both times breaking clear into the penalty area to finish confidently.
City can still qualify for the knockout stages but on the laboured performance tonight they will need to vastly improve and make sure Aguero is wrapped in cotton wool such is his importance to the team.
For such an expensively assembled squad results like this, whilst welcome, simply hide an under-performing team which needs to be adressed,
