Story so far: Manchester City FC

For many years Manchester City FC had a reputation for doing things the hard way. There was even a word for it – 'Cityitis' – and arguably its ultimate expression was the famous Wembley play-off against Gilllingham FC in May 1999. City, seeking to get out of English football's third tier, trailed 2-0 going into the 90th minute yet somehow salvaged a 2-2 draw before winning a penalty shoot-out.

The Citizens are a rather different club these days – they are champions of England and began the campaign with a squad bolstered by summer arrivals Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando and Frank Lampard – yet there were echoes of that fondly remembered fightback in their improbable Houdini act in Group E. Moreover, the manner in which Manuel Pellegrini's men, against the odds, snatched second place behind FC Bayern München, and with it a second successive appearance in the knockout stage, should give them the hope of going further.

They have never been beyond the last 16 but if they can learn from their autumn mistakes and reproduce the template of the impressive matchday six victory at AS Roma – resilient in defence and well-balanced in midfield – they might well break new ground.

Story so far
After City had lost in Munich on matchday one to a last-minute Jérôme Boateng goal, it became apparent they faced a serious fight to escape Group E when they were fortunate to take a point from their first home game against Roma. The two fixtures that followed against PFC CSKA Moskva cemented that impression: City threw away a two-goal lead in Moscow and then succumbed 2-1 at home to the Russian side on a night when both Yaya Touré and Fernandinho were sent off.

It then looked all over when they were 2-1 down at home to Bayern with six minutes remaining, but Sergio Agüero's two late goals turned that match on its head. Thrown a lifeline, City grabbed it in eye-catching fashion in Rome on matchday six.