David Silva's first-half equaliser ensured that Manchester City progressed into the Champions League round of 16, though they will need to improve if they are to make a deep run in the competition.
Gladbach set up in compact fashion, ready to allow City to dominate possession before breaking on the counter. However, the only shot in the first twenty minutes was a trickling effort from Raffael into Claudio Bravo's arms.
The second of Raffael's shots brought a surpriseopening goal for Gladbach. LarsStindl outmuscled John Stones down the wing and went on to supply the ball for the striker to blast home past a helpless Bravo.
The goal put a previously comfortable City into a less enviable situation in the group. Ilkay Gundogan attempted to resolve matters from a corner, dragging an effort towards Yann Sommer's right-hand corner. The Swiss stopper made the save.
GOAL! Gladbach 1-0 Man. City (Raffael 23) #UCL pic.twitter.com/RQSYtXj9Mz
His opposite number rolled the ball out directly to Oscar Wendt, who proceeded to stroll through the entire City defence before firing a shot which was pushed out by the blushing Bravo. It summed up the Manchester side's play; wasteful and sloppy.
Finally a chance fell to Sergio Aguero from Raheem Sterling's pull-back, but Sommer denied him with his legs.
City then showed that they had indeed woken up just a minute later, when Gundogan and Sterling produced superb passes to unlock the defence. David Silva tapped home from Kevin De Bruyne's cross. The half time whistle promptly blew, leaving City upbeat despite a poor overall performance thus far.
10 - Manchester City have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 Champions League away games. Suspect.
Sterling thought he had City in front only five minutes after the restart, but the offside flag went up against him after the simple finish.
On the other hand, the visitors were gifted an advantage when experienced captain Lars Stindl got himself a second yellow card for a shove on Nicolas Otamendi.
RED CARD: Stindl sent off for Gladbach! #mcfc #ucl
Astonishingly enough, Fernandinho was given a second yellow as well to make it ten versus ten. The referee gave the controversial decision for a half-hearted shirt tug. A reinvigorated Gladbach started to press forward, and Raffael drifted a shot narrowly wide.
Both teams pushed forward, but with little to show for it. Kevin de Bruyne whipped an effort in from outside the penalty area which was well saved, and Jesus Navas forced a sharp save, but each defence largely held its own going into the last ten minutes.
Manchester City saw the game out and took the draw back to England, with Barcelona's victory over Celtic meaning that they would qualify in second place.