Remembering City’s first Champions League away win

Manchester City is returning to the site of their first away win in the UEFA Champions League, facing Villarreal in a match scheduled for Tuesday night at 20:00 UK time. This fixture brings back memories of a pivotal 2011/12 season encounter that marked the beginning of City's European journey.

In the 2011/12 Champions League campaign, after an initial draw with Napoli and a loss to Bayern Munich, Roberto Mancini's team secured a 3-2 victory over Villarreal, nicknamed the Yellow Submarines. The win featured an own goal and a late strike from Sergio Aguero, allowing City to come from behind after conceding early. This victory was particularly significant as it occurred during City's first season in the competition since 1968/69, representing a major historical moment for the club.

The match took place in Villarreal, a small city with a population of around 50,000, which transforms on matchdays with an influx of fans. Manchester City supporters traveled extensively, staying in cities like Barcelona and Valencia, and filled local bars. At the time, City was riding high from a recent 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United, but the Champions League presented a new challenge for their young squad, emphasizing the learning curve in continental competition.