Feyenoord at home in the Champions League seemed like a decent moment to dispel the recency of a dismal 4-0 defeat to Tottenham just a few days ago.
They were 3-0 up, seemingly well on their way to halting a five-game losing streak which is unprecedented for a Pep Guardiola-led team.
Erling Haaland netted his second of the night on 53 minutes to set up what would usually be a routine final stretch for City to see out.
But 'routine' seems to have dropped out of City's playbook of late.
Feyenoord notched what looked like a consolation, which came from a shoddy headed back pass by Josko Gvardiol being cut out.
Consolation quickly turned to opportunity - Gvardiol's wayward pass preventing City from clearing their lines, Ederson failing to deal with a cutback properly and leaving Santiago Gimenez to chest into an empty net.
The game ending 3-2 would have soured the mood by itself, yet they would have taken that result given what would happen in stoppage time.
Feyenoord lofted a ball over the top of City's back line and crucially, it was into space between the defence and goalkeeper Ederson.
Ederson sprinted out of goal to intercept but was pipped to the ball by Igor Paixao, whose cross was met by David Hancko to score at the back post.
Bedlam for the Feyenoord supporters in the away end behind the goal and likely stunned at what they just witnessed, while it was head-in-hands for City and Guardiola - yet again.
Shot in the foot
City did actually stop the rot - it wasn't a sixth defeat in a row but this one would have stung more than the Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton results.
The manner in which this draw happened is the killer and it's incredible to see given how City's knack for resilience in the past.
This is a team which has earned four Premier League titles in a row, but they now have an unwanted record of being the first side to not win a Champions League game three goals up with 15 minutes to go.
City do have injuries, half-fit players and are lacking the physicality and legs, but they have been shooting themselves in the foot and it's becoming a habit.
Gvardiol for instance emerged as unplayable at the end of last season and continued his form into the current campaign, yet errors have started to creep into his game.
This is just scratching the surface and City's confidence would have been low already, but this result could play on minds further.
Where does it end?
The mood couldn't be worse for City and it comes at such a vital time with the fixture list ramping up for the festive period.
And it won't get easier with their next clash against Liverpool, the current league leaders, at Anfield where even the best-looking City sides have struggled.
Their difficulties at Anfield did come as a result of Jurgen Klopp's high-tempo approach in the opposing dugout, but Arne Slot surpassing expectations will have Liverpool eager to inflict more damage.
It is probably the worst fixture for City to have to deal with at this point and there are plenty more pre-Christmas tests beforehand too.
Guardiola is signed up for another two years and he is who City would want to steady the ship with his team's fragilities firmly recognised.
Right now, it looks tough to see when that happens but as with City sides past, you always feel a little uneasy counting them out.