Mancini must learn from the mistakes in Madrid

When Matija Nastasic was selected at centre-half against Real Madrid, the Serbian defender became Vincent Kompany's third defensive partner since the start of the season. With Maicon making only his second appearance since arriving from Inter Milan last month, City faced Real with a back four of relative strangers.

Mancini didn't help his team by selecting two newcomers at the back in the Bernabeu and the three goals conceded mean City have now shipped 11 in six games this season.

Prior to kick-off in the Bernabeu, confusion reigned due to Uefa posting two different City starting XIs on their website, but the uncertainty summed up the strange decisions taken by Mancini.

City's sense of adventure, which ultimately won them the Premier League last season, is proving their undoing away from home in the Champions League.

Since the start of last season, City have lost four and won two of their six away games, but the old failings reared their head in the Bernabeu.

City threw caution to the wind against Real and were picked off. Similarly, Sporting Lisbon punished them for leaving gaps at the back in the Europa League last term.

The City squad did not arrive in Madrid until 7.30pm on Monday evening due to Mancini preferring his players to train in Manchester and have lunch before flying to their Champions League destinations. As such, the players do not train on the pitch the night before the game.

Mancini's surprising reaction to hearing Joe Hart's claims that City 'only had themselves to blame' for the defeat saw him condemn the keeper with a withering put-down.