Gareth Barry insists Manchester City can take much pride from their painful defeat against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium.
City midfielder looking forward to Dortmund clash next up
Gareth Barry insists Manchester City can take pride from their painful defeat against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium.
The Premier League champions went down to a 3-2 defeat in their UEFA Champions League opener after conceding twice in the final three minutes.
Karim Benzema and former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo struck in a dramatic fight back from the nine-time European champions to keep up their winning record of having won their first home match in Europe's elite tournament on 41 of the last 43 occasions.
The result now leaves City playing catch-up in a tough-looking Group D that also includes Borussia Dortmund - also opening night winners - and Ajax.
Dangerous
Barry said: "We knew they were going to have the ball for long periods.
"We didn't set out to frustrate them but we set out to work hard and hit them on the counter-attack. As we showed throughout the game we are pretty dangerous.
"Yaya (Toure) had a great chance and if that goes in it is 2-0 and a different game.
"We played a good game and there are a lot of positives but overall we are disappointed.
"Playing away is always tough in the Champions League. To have got so close to the three points is disappointing but there is great stuff we can take from it."
They face the Bundesliga champions at the Etihad Stadium in their next match in a fortnight before traveling to Amsterdam in late October.
"We matched them and on another day could have come away with the three points," the 31-year-old England midfielder said.
"I am sure it will be a great game when they come to the Etihad Stadium but before that we have to try to make sure we get some points on the board."
