Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini admitted keeping his stars fresh for Saturday's Premier League visit from leaders Arsenal had been a factor in their stunning 3-2 win at Bayern Munich.
.
On a historic night for the club, City fought back from two-goals down to break the holders' record 10- match Champions League winning streak as Bayern coach Pep Guardiola suffered his first defeat in major competition with the German side.
.
Bayern also fell to their first home defeat -- after 18 wins in Munich -- since losing 2-0 at home to Arsenal in last season's knock-out stages of the Champions League in March.
.
With both teams already through to the knock-out stages, City avenged October's 3-1 defeat to Bayern at the Etihad Stadium, but still finished second to the Germans in Group D with both teams on 15 points.
.
City winger James Milner completed the fairytale fightback with the 62nd-minute winner, but a 4-2 win would have sent Pellegrini's side through as Group D winners.
.
Pellegrini brought on Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo for David Silva, back from a calf injury, for the final 20 minutes, but the Chilean admitted his thinking had been as much about the Gunners as chasing a fourth goal.
.
"It was important for us to get the fourth goal, but it would also have been a risk of continuing playing with David Silva," said the City coach.
.
"It was important for us to be at the top of the group, but we also have a big game on Saturday and it was not the most important thing."