Without Haaland, 10-man Man City held 0-0 by FC Copenhagen

Referee Artur Soares Dias gives a red card to Manchester City's Sergio Gomez, far left, during the group G, Champions League soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester City, at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday Oct. 11, 2022. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The Manchester City juggernaut ground to a halt in the unlikeliest of places on Tuesday.

FC Copenhagen, a team languishing in the bottom half of the Danish league, became the first team to stop City from scoring this season as a Champions League group match overshadowed by early video-review decisions ended in a 0-0 draw.

One of those VAR calls resulted in a red card for City left back Sergio Gomez in the 30th minute for pulling back Hakon Arnar Haraldsson as the last man, harming the visitors attacking ambitions at the atmospheric Parken Stadium.

Earlier, City midfielder Rodri had a brilliant long-range strike disallowed after VAR spotted a handball by Riyad Mahrez in the build-up.

Then, following another review, City was awarded a penalty after a free kick swung into the area struck the outstretched arm of Copenhagen defender Nicolai Boilesen. Mahrez, who has been increasingly reliable from the spot, saw his effort palmed away by Kamil Grabara.

Prolific striker Erling Haaland started the game on the bench - perhaps in view of the trip to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday - and didn't come on.

City, which won its first three Group G games, would have secured a place in the last 16 with a win. That could still happen if Borussia Dortmund avoids defeat at home to Sevilla later Tuesday.