Nine-time European champion Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund; seven-time champion Milan's woeful season continued with a 1-0 loss at Malaga, while City blew a 1-0 lead on the way to a 3-1 defeat at Ajax, and Arsenal was humbled by a 2-0 home loss to German club Schalke yesterday.
"I prepared the players badly for this game," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "This defeat is my fault."
The day after Manchester United scraped a 3-2 win at home to Braga, the erratic form of Premier League teams was again thrust into the spotlight with City conceding sloppy goals and Arsenal's misfiring forwards being given a lesson in clinical finishing by Schalke.
Madrid defended in numbers but fell behind to Robert Lewandowski's goal late in the first half, but the lead lasted barely a minute with Cristiano Ronaldo equalizing from a deft lob.
Defender Marcel Schmelzer scored Dortmund's winner to extend Madrid's terrible record in Germany. The Spanish side has now lost 17 of 24 games in Germany against a German opponent -- and the only win was a 3-2 victory at Bayer Leverkusen in 2000.
"It's a sensational evening, such as you can only imagine in your wildest dreams," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said.
Dortmund tops Group D with seven points, one more than Madrid. Ajax has three points, while City has one and is in real danger of a second consecutive group-stage exit.
"It was an incredibly difficult game. We also had chances to win," Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.
Midfielder Samir Nasri gave City the lead after being set up by James Milner, but Ajax hit back with goals from striker Siem de Jong, defender Niklas Moisander and silky midfielder Christian Eriksen. MORE (AP) PDS
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