City surrender two leads as draw reveals they are still off the pace

"MANCHESTER City's player number 16 kicked an opponent in the head while trying to play the ball.

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Erling Haaland opens the scoring for City last night

When VAR puts it like that, as it did inside the Stade Louis II last night, it is hard to argue.

Except, this being VAR, there will be plenty of argument.

Nico Gonzalez looked to have won the ball when he put his foot up to clear a free-kick late on as the Blues looked to defend their 2-1 lead, only for Eric Dier to roll around on the floor and the ref eree to be sent to the screen to see that there had been contact.

The former Tottenham defender picked himself up and sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way to put the brakes on City's charge.

A disconsolate Erling Haaland trudged off the pitch at full-time, feeling that his two goals should have been enough to see City over the line.