Manchester City are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League after a 2-0 win against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico this evening.
Second-half goals from Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta gave the Premier League champions the result in Italy to book their place in the last 16 of Europe's premier competition.
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Jose Holebas snuck in around the back, but the Greek defender was denied from close range by Joe Hart after just five minutes.
The right side was a particular area of joy for the home side though, and moments later it was Radja Nainggolan who found room and his driven low ball caused panic in the City defence before it was eventually cleared.
Edin Dzeko has replaced the injured Sergio Aguero in City's starting lineup and the Bosnian got on the end of Gael Clichy's cross on 14 minutes, but the effort was comfortably over the bar.
Jesus Navas slung in an inviting low cross moments later, but Roma eventually cleared their lines thanks to Maicon before James Milner forced Morgan de Sanctis into a save on 20 minutes.
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Roma went straight up the other end after De Sanctis's save, and Gervinho forced Hart into another save as the England international tipped the Ivorian's effort around the post.
Navas had the ball in the net five minutes later when he drilled a low shot into the corner, but it was ruled out after Dzeko had committed a foul when trying to attack Clichy's cross.
Gervinho's pace was causing City problems and the former Arsenal striker streaked away from Clichy after a long ball over the top from Nainggolan, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Hart.
Milner had City's best chance of the half, but the England international couldn't squeeze the ball past De Sanctis after going through on goal on 38 minutes.
Mirallem Pjanic tried his luck from range after the restart but Hart was once again equal to the effort as he parried it away from goal.
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However, it was the visitors who eventually struck first when Nasri hammered home a long-range effort in off the post on the hour mark to leave the Italians in need of two goals.
Roma went in search of their goals and Nainggolan forced Hart into a save before Adem Ljajic fired over after turning away from Pablo Zabaleta inside the box.
The Serie A side were inches away from equalising when Kostas Manolas's header bounced off the post before Martin Demichelis cleared off the line from the resulting corner.
Zabaleta made the result safe late on when he raced onto Nasri's pass inside the box to convert past De Sanctis and send City through to the knockout stages for the second time in their history.
Paul Gorst
