Manchester City 3-2 Bayern Munich: Aguero stars again

Sergio Aguero was brilliant yet again for Man City last night

Sergio Aguero's hat trick proved decisive as Manchester City gave their qualification hopes a boost with a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.

After the disaster here against CSKA Moscow a few weeks ago it looked as if Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City side were heading for the Champions League exit door as they hosted the mighty Bayern Munich at the Etihad.

The German champions arrived with qualification, and the group, already in the bag but Pep Guardiola's side didn't come to Manchester to roll over.

Bayern made a superb start to the game with long spells of controlled possession and Elaquim Mangala's superb block to deny Rafinha in the 18th minute proved crucial. Within seconds the hosts were up the other end of the field with Sergio Aguero preparing to take a penalty kick.

A hopeful punt over the top left Aguero in a foot race with Medhi Benatia and as they entered the penalty area the Egyptian flung himself towards the ball, but found only the ankles of the Argentine instead. A straight red card for Benatia and Aguero dusted himself down to beat Manuel Neuer from the spot and give his side a 20th minute lead.

It looked then as if the hosts would be able to hit on the counter attack at will but it didn't go to plan in the next hour at the Etihad. Despite their numerical disadvantage the visitors were able to keep hold of the ball and edge their way up the field, eventually to deadly effect.

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The world appeared to have caved in on Manchester City in five disastrous minutes at the end of the first half as Bayern struck twice to send a dagger to the home fans' hearts.

First, Robert Lewandowski was felled by Mangala on the edge of the area and Xabi Alonso stepped up to place a low free kick around the base of the wall and into the bottom corner, with Joe Hart rooted to the spot. With five minutes of the half to go it was vital that City didn't concede again, but they would do just that.

Jerome Boateng's floated cross was met by Lewandowski, as he rose above Bacary Sagna, to loop a header over the onrushing Joe Hart and into the back of the net. Silence around the Etihad with City's Champions League dreams in tatters and it didn't get much better for much of a fractious second half in which Bayern again dominated possession.

However, some players are special and Sergio Aguero is one such player as he proved in a dramatic final five minutes on a frosty night in Manchester. On 85 minutes Alonso turned his back and clipped a sloppy pass straight into Stevan Jovetic's path and Aguero rushed onto the loose ball, darted between two defenders and clipped a clever left footed finish beyond Neuer.

The draw was all City really needed, with victory in Rome still a must, whether they won here or not, but momentum is a game-changer and everyone inside the Etihad knew it. So when Boateng dallied in possession just outside his own area and Aguero stole in to take the ball off him the crowd rose as one to see what happened next. Aguero did not let them down as the Argentine striker slotted coolly beyond Neuer once again to complete his hat trick and another memorable comeback against Bayern.

City still need to go to Rome and win, and hope CSKA Moscow don't beat Bayern in Munich to advance to the knockout stage. However, they've given their season a major shot in the arm tonight and they go to Rome knowing exactly what they need to do. Can they finish the job?