Man City's unbeaten home streak ends with 2-0 loss to Leverkusen

MANCHESTER, England :Manchester City suffered a rare Champions League defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday as Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen claimed a stunning 2-0 victory to end the hosts' 23-game unbeaten home run in the competition's group or league stage.

The loss spoiled Pep Guardiola's 100th Champions League match as City manager and left the Premier League side provisionally sixth on 10 points after five games. Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick scored for Leverkusen, who are 13th.

Guardiola rested most of his regular starters for the first half with 10 changes to his team and the risky move backfired.

LEVERKUSEN OPEN SCORING WITH COUNTER-ATTACK STRIKE

Leverkusen struck in the 23rd minute on the counter-attack when Malik Tillman sent in a cross that Christian Kofane held up in the penalty area for Grimaldo to fire home.

Guardiola sent on reinforcements to start the second half in Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Nico O'Reilly, but it did not stop the visitors doubling their lead in the 54th minute with a glancing Schick header over a lunging Nathan Ake and past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper James Trafford.

City's scoring machine Erling Haaland entered the game in the 65th minute to a standing ovation.

But while he was in the thick of the action, there were no late-game heroics with Mark Flekken making a brave stop from the big Norwegian's best chance, a one-on-one with the keeper after running onto a through ball from Foden.

"I take full responsibility, still I think the players that started were exceptional players but we missed something needed at the highest level. We now have to fight for the next games," Guardiola said.

"I have to accept it. If we win it (changes) wouldn't be a problem, so I have to accept it