A debut goal from Javi Garcia has ensured that Manchester City are level with Stoke City at half-time at the Britannia Stadium.
The champions started brightly and Carlos Tevez has the first shot of the match with a curling effort that sailed just wide of the post.
Despite the early pressure from the visitors, it was Stoke who took the lead in the 15th minute through Peter Crouch.
Jonathan Walters delivered a good pass to his strike partner and Crouch made no mistake in putting his side ahead.
Mario Balotelli had a great opportunity to level the scores seven minutes later but the forward's shot sailed over the crossbar.
However, Roberto Mancini's side did find an equaliser before the break when Garcia found space to powerfully head a Carlos Tevez cross past Asmir Begovic.
