A neutral opinion for what it's worth:
Positives:
Hart by far City's best player. I don't actually blame him for any of those last two goals, Benzema's was just a fantastic finish and Kompany should have just headed it clear with ease - which I'm sure is what Hart was expecting him to do.
Yaya is obviously another one worth a mention. An absolute beast of a player but the only one who looked capable of creating something tonight.
Dzeko also looked good when he came on and topped it off with a nice finish.
Negatives:
Tevez was poor. Don't get me wrong, the workrate was there, but he couldn't hold the ball up enough and didn't look on top of his game.
Barry & Garcia looked too stationary and I couldn't believe how isolated your right backs were made to feel time and time again against arguably the best player in the world last season. It felt as though it was only a matter of time before he popped one in as he was allowed to cut onto his right hand side and shoot with his favourite foot all too much. Neither Maicon or Zaba were helped out all night in that regard.
Overall, Madrid deserved the win on chances and territorial pressure alone, however I can't help but feel for you lot tonight. Aside from the luck you received in the first half (which, when any team goes to the Bernabeu, they wont come away with anything without a bit of luck on their side), you performed admirably at times, especially in the 2nd half.
I thought Nastasic, despite being a little nervy at times with some short passes, played fairly well (although if Lescott didn't have a knock coming into the game, I'm amazed he didn't start).
I know there will be a lot of negative heads around here tonight and people feeling down after throwing away a 2-1 lead with 5 minutes to go (which, in fairness, shouldn't happen) but you've got to remember where are you are now compared to where you were 10 years ago.
You've gone to the Bernabeu and given, arguably the best club side in the world right now, anm almighty scare and could easily have come away with 3 points with a bit more luck on your side.
I've seen people on here whinge about how the performance was poor, etc, but you're playing against a better team at the end of the day. In a couple of years, that might be you dominating Madrid at the Etihad. You think United or Arsenal would have come away with 3 points tonight? I don't.
This isn't the be all and end all in this group and this wasn't the one that would decide your CL fate this year. I certainly see you getting 6pts at home to Dortmund and Ajax and I quite fancy you to pick up 3pts away to Ajax too.
What I'm trying to say is chins up lads. Tonight's result shows you deserve to be in the CL and just think about that the next time you remember back to playing the likes of Mansfield, Wrexham and my very own, albeit very shite, Oldham!
