City struggle

Racing Santander 3 Manchester City 1: MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes saw his side finish top of their group - despite being…

Racing Santander 3 Manchester City 1:MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes saw his side finish top of their group - despite being second best in Spain. FC Twente's defeat by Paris St Germain means City will face a third-placed team from one of the other groups in the draw today. With only four players retained from the weekend - Robinho, Elano, Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta - City looked like a team of strangers.

The home side took the lead in the 18th minute when Kasper Schmeichel pushed the ball into the path of Jonathan Pereira, who tapped the ball home. In the 30th minute Santander extended their lead with Oscar Serrano starting and finishing the move. He found Pereira with a 30-yard ball then took the return in his stride to send a shot beyond Schmeichel.

Santander made it 3-0 in the 55th minute when Juan Valera scored from close range. Substitute Felipe Caicedo pulled a goal back for City in stoppage time.

RACING SANTANDER: Coltorti, Valera, Garay, Cesar Navas, Marcano, Munitis, Colsa (Lacen 77), Luccin, Oscar Serrano, Tchite, Jonathan Pereira (Juanjo 83). Subs Not Used: Mario, Goncalves, Pinillos, Christian, Bedia. Booked: Marcano, Oscar Serrano, Colsa, Garay.

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MAN CITY: Schmeichel, Zabaleta, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Hamann, Fernandes, Vassell, Elano (Kompany 60), Robinho (Ireland 46), Evans (Caicedo 75). Subs Not Used: Hart, Onuoha, Ball, Logan. Booked: Ben-Haim, Hamann, Elano, Zabaleta, Kompany.

Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium).