Hart was the only Englishman to feature in City’s 11 against a side that included 103-capped former Three Lions left-back Ashley Cole within their ranks.
Cole’s return to his homeland got off to a bad start – but not as bad as his team-mate Maicon, a former City player, who fouled Sergio Aguero just four minutes in to concede a penalty. The Argentine dusted himself off to put away the spot-kick and open the scoring.
The lead would only last for twenty minutes, however, as Hart’s hopes of a clean sheet were dashed courtesy of Italian and Roma legend Francesco Totti. The 38-year-old finished right footed from the left side of the box after receiving the ball from Radja Nainggolan.
With the scores tied at the break, James Milner replaced Jesus Navas in the City midfield, and he was joined by former England team-mate Frank Lampard on 57 minutes, the ex-Chelsea man coming on for Edin Dzeko.
Neither was able to inspire the Premier League champions to find a winner as they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Elsewhere in Europe, Gary Cahill helped Chelsea to all three points in their Group G clash in Portugal.
Nemanja Matic’s first-half header sealed the win for the Blues against Sporting Lisbon.
A Will Hughes-inspired Derby County moved up to fourth place in the Championship as a late charge ensured a 2-0 win against Bournemouth.
With the contest at the iPro Stadium deadlocked at 0-0, it was left to U21 international midfielder Hughes to open the scoring with nine minutes left on the clock.
Chris Martin doubled the score in additional time as the Rams, who also started with U20 winger Jordon Ibe, extended their unbeaten home record this season to seven.
In the north east, defender Ben Gibson (U21) and striker Patrick Bamford (U21) suffered a frustrating evening at the Riverside as Middlesbrough were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom of the league Blackpool.
Bryn Morris, called-up to Sean O’Driscoll’s U19 squad earlier in the day, started on the bench for Boro, along with on-loan Chelsea goalie Jamal Blackman, who was included in Gareth Southgate’s last squad – neither were used.
Another goalkeeper in that U21 squad, Jonathan Bond was an unused sub for Watford as they welcomed Brentford to Vicarage Road. On the opposite bench sat his international colleague Alex Pritchard, and despite the on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward’s introduction on 70 minutes, the home side were able to hold on to a 2-1 victory.
Jake Forster-Caskey lined-up for Brighton & Hove Albion as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home Cardiff City and Jamaal Lascelles’ (U21) Nottingham Forest recorded an identical scoreline as they visited Wigan Athletic.
Nathan Redmond started for top of the league Norwich City as they went down to a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic at Carrow Road.
The visitors took the points back to South London due to a strike on 86 minutes from Johnnie Jackson. U19 defender Joe Gomez was included in the Addicks’ backline and there was a senior debut for U17 international Karl Ahearne-Grant as he entered the fray from the bench in the dying seconds.
U20 forward Josh Murphy appeared as a sub for Norwich.
