City on brink of early exit after Napoli loss

Manchester City are facing an early exit from the Champions League after a shattering loss at Napoli last night.

The Barclays Premier League leaders were beaten 2-1 at the intimidating and vast San Paolo Stadium to fall behind the Italians and into third in Group A.

City will now need to beat group winners Bayern Munich in their final game next month and hope winless Villarreal can upset Napoli to progress to the knockout stage.

Anything less will leave City playing in the second tier Europa League in the new year.

Manager Roberto Mancini rated the sides’ chances of qualification as “70% to Napoli and 30% to us” but nevertheless refused to give up hope.

The Italian said: “Our target was to go into the second stage and at this moment we are depending on other teams.

“But in football anything can happen. If Villarreal play a serious match they can get a result. It is important we play our game against Bayern Munich.”

City were undone by two goals from coveted Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani, who struck either side of a Mario Balotelli equaliser.

The visitors had tried to take the sting out of imposing atmosphere by building patiently early on but Napoli troubled them on the break.

Napoli claimed the lead in the 19th minute when Cavani’s glancing header off an Ezequiel Lavezzi corner was deflected past Joe Hart.

Balotelli levelled before the break with a close-range tap-in after a David Silva shot was parried by Morgan de Sanctis.

Napoli went back ahead four minutes into the second half when former Liverpool player Andrea Dossena teed up Cavani’s second.

City had a number of chances, with Balotelli, Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov going close, but Napoli looked just as likely in an eventful contest and hit the post through Marek Hamsik.

Mancini, whose side had won their nine previous games in all competitions, said: “I am disappointed about the result and I am sorry for the lads. I think we lost undeservedly.

“There is nothing to explain, we are a strong team and we always play well, we always play to win. But occasionally you can lose matches, especially in the Champions League.”

Balotelli, who headed over in the second half and almost got on the end of dangerous Kolarov cross, was sick during the game.

Mancini admitted the controversial forward had been suffering from a fever but was incredulous at suggestions his illness related to a visit to a Neapolitan pizzeria on the eve of the game.

He said: “He has a small fever, it is nothing serious. He had my permission to see his girlfriend for half an hour – it was only to say hello to his girlfriend in a pizzeria. He did not have a pizza.”