No room for error as Manchester City seek first win

Manchester City visit Ajax today knowing that they can afford no further setbacks if they are to avoid a painful repeat of last season's Champions League group-phase exit

Dealt another fiendish draw, City find themselves in third place in Group D after two matches, five points behind leaders Real Madrid and three points adrift of Borussia Dortmund.

Both games to date have left the English champions in rueful mood. The opening 3-2 loss in Madrid came courtesy of a 90th-minute winner from Cristiano Ronaldo, while City needed a last-minute Mario Balotelli penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to an enterprising Dortmund side three weeks ago.

Although Ajax are the Dutch champions, they are the weakest team in the group, and City will hope to reignite their push for a last-16 place by winning both games of their double-header against the Amsterdam club.

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