Manchester City welcomed Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium tonight knowing that only a win would prolong their hopes of qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.
However, a 1-1 draw with the La Liga title holders meant that Roberto Mancini's side exited Europe's premier competition at the group stage for a second consecutive season.
A point for Madrid was enough to see them progress along with Borussia Dortmund, who have secured top spot in Group D courtesy of their 4-1 victory over Ajax this evening.
Read the story of how City's elimination was confirmed below.
It is a big night for Roberto Mancini's men, and the Italian has made some bold selection decisions for the visit of the La Liga champions.
City have often switched to three at the back in the middle of matches this season, but tonight Mancini starts with a 3-5-2 system.
Pablo Zabaleta will operate as the third central defender alongside Matija Nastasic and captain Vincent Kompany.
Maicon, a former winner of the competition during his Inter Milan days, and Aleksandar Kolorov will offer some width from the wing-back positions.
Besides that tactical decision, Mancini's biggest selection call is opting for Edin Dzeko in attack ahead of both Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.
The Bosnian forward has so often been effective coming off the bench this season, scoring eight times in total, but tonight he is awarded the role of partnering Sergio Aguero up-front.
Here is the team in full: MAN CITY: Hart; Maicon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolorov; Yaya Toure, Nasri, Silva; Aguero, Dzeko
And the substitutes, which include Tevez, but not Mario Balotelli: SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Milner, Garcia, Barry, Sinclair, Tevez
Interestingly, Joe Hart is the only Englishman named in the Premier League champions' starting XI. Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, James Milner and Scott Sinclair are all on the bench.
Now onto the visitors, who have handed a start to summer arrival Luka Modric. The former Tottenham Hotspur star is preferred to Mesut Ozil in the playmaker role.
It is only the Croat's second Champions League start for Madrid since making his £32m switch from north London. He will play in-front of holding midfield pair Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso.
Of course, the headline name in the Los Blancos lineup is Cristiano Ronaldo, whose presence will surely rile up those City fans who remember his time across Manchester.
He will start on the left side of a forward three that also includes Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema. Gonzalo Higuain is a long-term absentee with injury.
Here is the team in full: MADRID: Casillas; Arebeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Modric, Ronaldo; Benzema
And the Madrid bench: SUBS: Adan, Varane, Kaka, Ozil, Albiol, Callejon, Nacho
The destiny of Group D has several permutations, but it is pretty simple for Man City. Two wins from two, otherwise they are eliminated from the Champions League.
Remember, City exited the competition at the group stage last season. Two years on the bounce would be a difficult blow to take for those City fans who consider their team to be the emerging force in world football.
Five minutes until kickoff now...
That famous music is blasting out the Etihad Stadium speakers. That is always a sign that the action is imminent...
Boos ring around Eastlands following the announcement of Cristiano Ronaldo's name over the tannoy. I'm sure the Portuguese international will thrive under the special attention he is sure to receive from the home support.
And we are underway in Manchester. It is now or never for the Premier League champions...
The travelling Spanish fans have a target of their own. Former Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero will be the focus of their boos.
One last factual nugget before I focus on the action - this is Jose Mourinho's 100th Champions League match as a head coach. The 49-year-old is the youngest manager to reach that landmark.
And now onto on-field matters. Interestingly, Ronaldo has started from the right-hand side, perhaps fancying his chances against opposing full-back Alexander Kolorov.
Foul from Khedira on Kolorov out wide on the left, and Casillas punches the free kick clear from danger.
A late challenge on Dzeko from Ramos, who shows a single digit (not in that way) to the referee, to indicate that was his first offence. No card shown to the Spaniard.
Madrid counter through Benzema down the left, and via Ronaldo, the ball comes to Di Maria on the right. The Argentine cuts inside but his shot is well blocked by Zabaleta.
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)
GOAL! Di Maria has space to again cut in from the right and drift a wonderful ball into the box. Benzema has makes a run behind Maicon, who leaves the Frenchman free to convert first time from six yards.
CHANCE! Khedira goes close to a Madrid second but his curling effort lacks the bend to finish inside Hart's post.
CHANCE! Another Madrid chance and again it falls to Khedira. Ronaldo twists Kompany one way and the other, showing great feet before delivering a cross which the German international heads into the side netting.
Elsewhere in Group D, Borussia Dortmund have taken a 1-0 lead against Ajax. Should results stay the same, Dortmund and Madrid would secure their qualification tonight.
OFF THE LINE! The visitors go so close to a second as Ronaldo is put clear. He lobs the ball over a jumping Hart and watches in hope as Nastasic sprints back to deny him on the goal-line. The Serbian's clearance comes straight back to Ronaldo, but his follow-up effort is blocked behind for a corner.
Corner to Madrid after Kompany diverts a Modric shot behind.
Pepe climbs to head goal-wards from the resultant set piece, but Hart gathers comfortably.
It has been all about Madrid in this opening 20 minutes. City need some of the ball so they can control the tempo and slow this game down.
SHOT! First City attempt of the game as Aguero turns away from his marker before trying a right-footed curler that Casillas tips over the crossbar.
CHANCE! For the third time already tonight, Khedira wanders into the box from his holding role. On this occasion he is foiled at his feet by Joe Hart, who launches a City counter attack. Aguero runs free down the left but his cross comes to nothing.
CHANCE! Maicon brings the ball forward from right back, cutting inside before playing it into the feet of Aguero. Maicon receives the return pass and charges into the box but his uncultured toe-poke goes wide.
Yellow card! The first caution of the game is shown to Yaya Toure for a late sliding challenge on Ronaldo. The Ivorian complains, probably because he is aware that card means he will miss City's final group game against Dortmund through suspension.
Silva skips past two Madrid challenges down the right and cuts the ball back for the stretching Dzeko, who makes minimal contact. Madrid clear.
Yellow card! Alvaro Arbeloa brings down Aguero and evens up the card count.
SHOT! Kolorov strikes the free kick well but it is a few yards wide of goal as Casillas ushers the ball out of play.
Another goal in Netherlands, where Dortmund have moved two clear courtesy of Mario Gotze. Marco Reus netted the first for the visitors.
Good five-minute spell for City. They have had plenty of the ball and slowed the game down to a tempo that reduces Madrid's counter-attacking threat. No sign of an equaliser as yet, though.
Yellow card! Maicon joins teammate Toure in the book after tugging back Benzema, who had got the wrong side of the Brazilian when attacking Ronaldo's cross.
All but over in Amsterdam. Robert Lewandowski has made it Ajax 0-3 Borussia Dortmund.
Remember, City need Dortmund to win tonight if they are to qualify, so it is all well on that front. Not going to plan at the Etihad though...
HALF-TIME: Man City 0-1 Real Madrid
HALF-TIME: Madrid deservedly lead through Karim Benzema's 10th-minute opener, which came gift-wrapped from a sleeping Maicon at the back post. City stemmed the tide of visiting attacks after the half-hour, but did not look like finding an equaliser. Considering that they will need at least two goals in this second half to prolong their knockout-stage hopes, that is not a promising sign.
Here you can read Sports Mole's half-time report on the contest, courtesy of my colleague Callum Mulvihill.
We are back underway at Eastlands, and there is a half-time change for City...
Substitution: Aleksandar Kolorov makes way for Javi Garcia, and that change is likely to have tactical implications.
I imagine City will revert to 4-4-2, with Garcia partnering Toure in the middle and Nasri and Silva operataing on the flanks.
That will mean Zabaleta filling in at left-back, and the Argentine gets forward well to help earn his side a corner in the early stages of this second period.
Yellow card!: Xabi Alonso catches Silva on the ankle with a sliding challenge and is cautioned for the ill-timed tackle.
Aguero meets Silva's cross with a near-post header which flies over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Superb play from Silva, who is getting some joy on that right-hand side. He combines with Aguero, before running into the box and dancing past two tackles. Pepe half stops him but the ball falls into the path of Aguero, who is through one-on-one with Casillas but over-hits his first touch and the Madrid stopper clears.
SHOT! After Dzeko breaks the offside trap and crosses from the right, the ball falls to Silva who is rushed into a first-time shot that Casillas comfortably gathers.
CHANCE! At the other end, Ronaldo gets free down the left before crossing for Khedira, whose header is saved by Hart.
Yellow card! Two City cautions to tell you about - Nasri and Zabaleta. The latter is rightfully frustrated as it appeared he got the ball when challenging Di Maria.
Substitution: Attacking change from Mancini, and he has no choice now. Tevez comes on for Nasri to form a front three alongside Dzeko and Aguero.
Penalty shout! Arbeola does very well down the right to wriggle free of two City challenges and the Spaniard appeals for a spot kick when Javi Garcia pulls him down. The assistant behind the goal is perfectly positioned, and is motionless. The challenge seemed to be outside the area anyway.
GREAT SAVE! Silva plays Maicon in down the right and the Brazilian's deflected cross finds Aguero at the back post. He makes decent contact from six yards but a diving Casillas guesses low and somehow keeps the ball out. That is the closest that City have come.
SHOT! Ronaldo tries one of his dipping shots from range and strikes it well, with Hart only able to parry it back into his path. However, the Portuguese was adjudged to have fouled Kompany in his attempts to collect the rebound and City can clear.
Yellow card: Ramos is penalised for handball and harshly enters the referee's book.
Substitution: We have seen the last of Luka Modric for this evening as the ex-Spurs man leaves the field to be replaced by Jose Callejon.
Lewandowski has got his second in Holland and Dortmund now lead Ajax 4-0.
PENALTY, AND RED CARD! This could be the game-changing moment as far as Manchester City are concerned. Dzeko holds the ball up well before playing in Aguero, who is clumsily brought down by Arbeloa. The referee points to the spot, and then reaches into his pocket to show the full-back a second yellow card.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Real Madrid (Sergio Aguero)
GOAL! Aguero wastes little time in placing the ball on the spot and sending Casillas the wrong way with a calm strike into the bottom-right corner. Game well and truly on.
Substitution: Mourinho immediately reacts to going a man down by throwing on defender Raphael Varane in place of striker Karim Benzema.
Silva pinches the ball away from Pepe on the left and plays in Dzeko with a clever reverse pass. Aguero and Tevez are in the box, but the Bosnian's cross is too high for the petite pair and the ball goes to safety.
Entering the last 10 minutes now, and Roberto Mancini is readying his final change...
Ronaldo is furious, and the home fans revel in his anger. He runs past three City players on the counter but is pushed off the ball by Kompany. The referee is unmoved, cuing ironic cheers from the Manchester crowd.
Superb one-touch link-up on the left between Silva, Dzeko and Zabaleta, but Tevez does not get hold off his shot and Casillas gathers.
Corner to City as Maicon's first-time cross is turned behind by Coentrao...
Five minutes plus stoppage time remaining for City to find the goal that would keep them in the Champions League. Mancini has yet to make that aforementioned change, but James Milner is stripped and ready...
Substitution: Mancini finally makes that change and it is a strange one, bringing Milner on for Aguero. A midfielder for a striker when you need a goal, Roberto? Hmm...
Substitution: Mourinho throws another defender on in the shape of Raul Albiol. Di Maria makes way as the Special One sets up his injury-time defensive wall.
Talking of injury time, we will have five minutes! Mourinho cannot believe the timekeeping...
CHANCE! Tevez moves the ball out right to Maicon, and with the box loaded, the Brazilian finds Toure on the edge of the area with a smart cut back, but the Ivorian blazes his effort well over.
CHANCE! Silva chips a delightful ball over the Madrid back line, but Tevez cannot bring it down and Casillas snatches the ball away from the Argentine.
Dortmund's place in the knockout stages has been confirmed - they have beaten Ajax 4-1 in Amsterdam - Danny Hoesen with the consolation for the hosts.
FULL-TIME: Man City 1-1 Real Madrid! And Madrid will join them! City are out of the Champions League after failing to beat the La Liga champions tonight.
FULL-TIME: The penalty and red card gave City hope, but they ran out of time in their search for a winning goal and are thus ELIMINATED from the Champions League.
You can read Sports Mole's full-time report on this evening's encounter here.
So, more European disappointment for Mancini's Citizens as they exit at the group stage for the second straight season. It just won't happen for them in the Champions League, seemingly...
Well that is it from me for tonight. I'll be back for live commentary of the Europa League from 5.30pm tomorrow as Spurs travel to Lazio. Be sure to join Sports Mole for that contest, and our coverage of the other British sides in action on Thursday. Over and out...
