Bayern Munich 2-3 Man City: Champions League Holders Turned Around
Manchester City recovered from 2-0 down at the Allianz Arena to inflict a rare defeat on Champions League holders Bayern Munich, but still finished behind them in Group D.
James Milner netted the winner after David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov's penalty cancelled out Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze strikes.
City made a terrible start conceding on five minutes. Defender Dante picked out Muller with a lovely long ball which the German chested down as he ran infield and away from Kolarov. Joe Hart was swiftly beaten by a low strike across him.
Bayern continued to build on their lead with Brazil's Dante nodding a Toni Kroos free kick straight at England and City stopper Hart. Ballon d'Or nominee Franck Ribery won a corner with Joleon Lescott putting in a very shaky display in defence.
From that set piece hosts Munich doubled their lead through Gotze 12 minutes in. He finished from close range as City failed to clear their lines. Milner led a muted response for the visitors working Manuel Neuer with a 20-yard volley.
Kroos then tried his luck from range, but Hart got his body behind the Bayern midfielder's effort. City pulled one back on the break with 27 minutes gone. Milner headed a Jesus Navas centre back across goal and Spaniard Silva smuggled the ball home.
A terrible Kolarov clearance rebounded off Mario Mandzukic and rustled the side-netting of Hart's goal as Munich still posed a threat. Gotze then drew a stop from the England keeper after good work from the influential Ribery.
Dzeko forced Neuer into a low near post stop after the break following more good work by Silva. City were level just before the hour when Dante felled Milner in the box and Kolarov clinically converted the resultant penalty.
Pellegrini's team then completed what had looked like an unlikely turnaround early on with the second of two goals in three minutes. Silva set Navas away down the right and his cross went right through to Milner, who angled across Neuer and in.
Visitors City needed one more to top the group, and sub Alvaro Negredo almost profited from another Dante error. Neyuer came to Bayern's rescue sticking out a left that kept his effort out.
It proved vital as despite defeat Munich just topped the group, leaving this as something of a hollow victory for Pellegrini. He has guided City through to the knockout phase for the first time in the club's history though.