Roberto Mancini and Joe Hart admitted Manchester City were lucky to escape with a draw after being outplayed for almost the entire 90 minutes by an impressive Borussia Dortmund side in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

Marco Reus gave the German champions the lead just after the hour mark, pouncing on a misplaced pass from Jack Rodwell. However, Mario Balotelli equalized for the home side late on from the penalty spot, after the ball struck Neven Subotic's hand inside the box, off a strike from Sergio Aguero.

City, therefore picked up their first point of this year's Champions League campaign, with Dortmund on four points following the draw. Real lead the Group D table with six from two games, while Ajax have none.

"We didn't deserve to get this point but in the end it could be important," City manager Mancini said. "Borussia Dortmund played better than us. If we want to play at the top level in the Champions League, we need more than tonight.

"We need to fight. It's not enough to have good quality. Joe saved us this evening. He did very, very well. If we don't improve, (qualification) is difficult. This point could be important in this group.

"Today we deserved to concede three or four goals as we didn't play well. At this moment they are probably a better team than us. We are making a lot of mistakes which is very strange for us. I know the problem and I will resolve it very quickly."

Hart, who kept the game at 1-0 with some brilliant saves, agreed with his manager. "We got a point against one our rivals to qualify for the group and potentially maybe we shouldn't have," he said. "We've not played great tonight and they have played well and we've come out with a point, hopefully we can move forward with that.

"It's nice to make saves, it is not something I have to do a great deal at City but when required I try to step in and I was required a few times tonight.

"They're a fantastic team for a pot four side in our group (and) it shows what a group we're in, what a tough task but you have to enjoy it.

"If we get through we (deserve) a big pat on our back but it's going to be hard. We looked to win tonight but sometimes you have to take what you're given and it's going to be a big game at Ajax."

Subotic was devastated not to pick up maximum points after a brilliant attacking performance from his side. "As a team we were great, nobody really anticipated that we could create so many problems for City," the central defender said.

"There were a lot of chances for both teams and due to the amount of chances the best player was the goalkeeper -- Joe Hart saved a lot of chances and that speaks (volumes) for us because we created a lot of great chances and in any other match would have scored more than one goal."

"I was involved in the (handball offence) that created the equaliser and am devastated because we were so close to getting those three points and it would have been a little miracle for us. We talked to a couple of guys from City and they said no opponents have created so many problems for them, that is a compliment for us.

"I don't think Man City and Real Madrid are too far apart, they're both world-class teams . We showed what we could do (and) we'll try to take what we did today and finish a little bit better. Hopefully we can put that on the pitch against Madrid."