Manuel Pellegrini was hoping to see fireworks at the Etihad.
However Pellegrini’s Manchester City side could barely muster a spark as they lost 1-2 to Russian champions, CSKA Moscow.
The home side’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages now look extremely slim having only collected two points from a possible 12.
They also must do it without Yaya Toure for the remainder of the competition after his needless straight red.
City’s saving grace is that both CSKA Moscow and Roma have had equally poor campaigns, winning just one game a piece.
If Pellegrini thought Sunday’s 1-0 victory over neighbours, Manchester United, would kick-start their season, he was very much mistaken.
It took just two minutes for Seydou Doumbia to expose City’s vulnerable defence after slipping away from the absent Toure to nod in from an accurate free-kick.
Joe Hart has now conceded five goals to CSKA striker, Seydou Doumbia.
Toure earned an instant reprieve by slamming a thunderbolt free-kick from 25 yards out to encapsulate City’s constant transition from sloppy to outstanding this season.
They fell behind again 10 minutes before the break.
The energetic Doumbia capitalised on Gael Clichy’s ghastly clearance before calmly sliding it past Hart.
City’s day went from bad to worse when midfield enforcer, Fernandinho, picked-up a second yellow for obstruction on the edge of the box, a silly an unnecessary booking.
Yaya Toure saw red soon after for shoving Roman Ermenko to the ground, leaving City to end the game with just nine men.