Roma 0-2 Manchester City

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Samir NasriImage source, EPA
Image caption,

Manchester City had never previously won a European match in Italy

  • Man City's first win in Italy

  • Premier League champions through to last 16

  • City into knockout stages for second season in a row

  • They had two points after four matches

Manchester City qualified for the Champions League last 16 for a second successive season as a win at Roma put them through alongside Group E winners Bayern Munich.

Samir Nasri scored from 25 yards after the break before Pablo Zabaleta fired in from close range.

Earlier Joe Hart tipped Gervinho's strike wide before touching Kostas Manolas's header onto the post.

Bayern beat CSKA Moscow 3-0 to confirm City's qualification.

It completed a remarkable turnaround for the Premier League champions, who looked to be heading out of the competition after failing to win any of their first four games.

However, a 3-2 home win over German champions Bayern, which included a Sergio Aguero hat-trick, kept alive their hopes of making the last 16 - and they took full advantage with a stunning display in Rome.

Who has qualified?

Winners

Runners-up

Group A

Atletico Madrid

Juventus

Group B

Real Madrid

Basel

Group C

Monaco

Bayer Leverkusen

Group D

Borussia Dortmund

Arsenal

Group E

Bayern Munich

Manchester City

Group F

Barcelona

PSG

Group G

Chelsea

Schalke

Group H

Porto

Shakhtar Donetsk

City, who had to win a European match in Italy for the first time, were without skipper Vincent Kompany, who failed a late fitness test, the suspended Yaya Toure and injured top scorer Aguero.

They struggled early on with ex-Arsenal striker Gervinho's pace causing Zabaleta problems, and the Ivory Coast international was only denied an opener by Joe Hart's fingertip save.

The forward was looking a far more dynamic player to the one who frustrated Gunners fans so often as he raced beyond the visitors' defence numerous times.

City, though, were dangerous too, with Nasri enjoying plenty of the ball as both sides played attacking football while looking fragile defensively.

With Bayern leading at the break, Roma were on their way through with a goalless draw and City knew they had to score to stand a chance of making the last 16.

Group E

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

GD

Points

Bayern Munich

6

5

0

1

+12

15

Manchester City

6

2

2

2

1

8

Roma

6

1

2

3

-6

5

CSKA Moscow

6

1

2

3

-7

5

And they did just that through Nasri's unstoppable strike on 60 minutes which went in via the near post.

The inevitable Roma pressure followed but, thanks to Hart's brilliant save from Manolas's header and Martin Demichelis's goal-line clearance, City soaked up the pressure before Zabaleta doubled the lead with his first Champions League goal.

Nasri put the Argentine through to slide home from an angle to send the 1500 away fans wild and secure City's place in the draw for the last 16 on Monday.

Image source, AFP
Image caption,

Samir Nasri made his 50th Champions League appearance and scored his 50th club goal

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Francesco Totti has made more than 500 appearances for Roma

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Roma forward Gervinho played for Arsenal between 2011 and 2013

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Pablo Zabaleta scored his first Champions League goal

Image source, EPA
Image caption,

Manchester City have won their last six matches in all competitions

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