Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has played down Mario Balotelli being sick during their defeat to Napoli.

As well as scoring, Balotelli had a number of other chances and was also sick on the field.

Mancini rubbished suggestions the maverick Italian forward might have been ill after being spotted in a pizzeria in Naples with his girlfriend on the eve of the match.

Mancini said: "He was sick but he didn't have many problems. He has a small fever, it was nothing serious.

"He had my permission to see his girlfriend for half an hour - it was only to say hello to his girlfriend in a pizzeria. He did not have a pizza."