Man City 1-1 Napoli

Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-kick cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s goal to rescue a point for Manchester City against their fellow Champions League debutants Napoli at the Eithad Stadium.

On a night which had been anticipated since the takeover of Sheikh Mansour, the occasion did not disappoint with both sides playing some good football and pressing for victory without going hell-for-leather in their search for a winning goal. On the balance of play, a draw was probably the fairest result.

Typically, Napoli defended well - as you would expect from an Italian team - with their 3-4-3 formation working well; one midfielder would often drop back in to make it a 4-3-3 formation when City came forward whilst they always looked a threat on the counter-attack.

The sumptuous David Silva was impressive for the home side, pulling the strings in midfield, as he so often does, with his dazzling footwork showing that he belongs on the grandest stage in club football.

Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi fired an early warning with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock as his smart turn left Vincent Kompany bamboozled before his fine, curling effort came back off the crossbar with Joe Hart grasping at thin air.

The hosts then hit the bar themselves with Yaya Touré going close to providing the perfect finish to a flowing City move which he started. Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko also went close for Roberto Mancini’s side with shots that whistled past the post of Morgan De Sanctis in the Napoli goal but, alas, for all of the opportunities that were created, the sides were inseparable at the interval.

Shortly after the break, the highly-rated Slovakian, Marek Hamsik, saw his effort cleared off the line by Kompany before he was again denied by a brilliant block by Pablo Zabaleta as the Azzurri looked to take control of proceedings and silence the home crowd.

Silenced, they were, in the 69^th minute as Gareth Barry’s sloppy back-heel in midfield allowed Christian Maggio to burst forward before slipping in Cavani to finish coolly between the legs of England goalkeeper Hart to the delight of the travelling Napoli fans.

Parity would be restored within five minutes as Kolarov’s free-kick flew past De Sanctis to haul City level.

It said a lot about the quality in depth that both sides possess with strikers Carlos Tevez and Goran Pandev coming off the bench for their respective sides as both bosses urged their sides forward for a winning goal.

It was the latter who came closest to securing three points for his side, capitalising on a shocking back-pass from the usually reliable Kompany. Thankfully for the home fans, Hart was off his line quickly to put the Macedonian striker off and City lived to fight another day.

The criminally under-rated visitors gave Manchester City a stern test and one which will have surprised many an ignorant fan. Whilst the result was not quite the reality check some were hoping for, it gives the Premier League pacesetters some food for thought ahead of a tricky trip to the Allianz Arena, the setting for this season’s grand finale, where they face Bayern Munich.

Mancini will not have let his players take Napoli lightly, nor could he have afforded to. This, after all, is no walk in the park like the majority of City's Premier League games have been. This is the biggest test in club football: a massive step-up and a challenge not to be shirked. Passengers get punished. Yes, Gareth Barry, I'm looking at YOU.

Whilst they may have the financial muscle to be able to make an impact upon the tournament, they also need to demonstrate the experience and application of talent if they are to progress from the 'group of death'.

Though their style of play may have changed to be more expansive City still need improvement.

A ruthlessness in front of goal is needed. Often enough, the likes of Nasri, Dzeko and Aguero would get into promising positions but, rather than shoot, they opted instead to pass the ball. These players should not be short on confidence having hit 15 goals in their opening 4 league games. Chances aren't as easy to come by against the likes of Napoli and Bayern as they would be against Wigan and Swansea.

Napoli have given the reality check, it's now up to City to act upon their findings and improve to ensure they have a chance of returning to the Allianz for a second time in May.