Mark Hughes’s determination to ease Manchester City’s passage into the last 32 of the Uefa Cup by winning group A will go the distance against Racing Santander in just over two weeks’ time as a result of their stupor against Paris Saint-Germain last night. That Steve McClaren will be the biggest benefactor from any repeat of this performance in Spain would add to the sense of embarrassment.

Twente’s victory over Schalke 04 and City’s inability to eclipse a French side that Paul Le Guen, the manager, weakens for European competition means that only victory in Spain will fulfil Hughes’s desire to avoid one of the clubs who drop out of the Champions League when the knockout phase commences.

Until last night, the competition for which City set out to qualify nine games ago, in July, had been good to Hughes. All he achieved for his pains against PSG was complete frustration and the knowledge that he will have to make plans for Racing without Elano, the Brazilian who damaged a groin muscle and will be out for at least two weeks, adding insult to injury. Despite the failure to “put to bed” the issue of group supremacy with one game to spare, though, Hughes refused to be downcast and is confident that his side remain in good shape. “It was frustrating and we want a positive result in Santander and we are still in the box seat,” the manager said.

At least he is likely to have the services of Robinho, Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips for the trip. The absence of the trio certainly affected City’s rhythm last night.

Daniel Sturridge’s early miss did little to ease the tensions and exotic names such as Lionel Messi, Iker Casillas and Kaká will continue to be linked with City as January 1 and the chance for the Abu Dhabi United Group to flash their platinum credit cards looms closer. It will get worse before it gets better for Hughes.

Joe Hart at least did his best to divert attention away from searching for other goalkeepers with a commanding second-half performance that prevented further embarrassment. One save to deny Peguy Luyindula was particularly crucial early in the second half.

The same cannot be said of Jô, the Brazilian striker, who failed to impress in place of Robinho. He, more than anyone, should be concerned about the spending plans of Hughes in just over three weeks’ time.

Manchester City (4-4-2): J Hart — P Zabaleta, R Dunne, T Ben-Haim, J Garrido — D Vassell (sub: D Hamann, 76min), S Ireland, V Kompany, Elano (sub: Benjani Mwaruwari, 49) — Jô (sub: C Evans, 65), D Sturridge. Substitutes not used: K Schmeichel, S Logan, G Berti, F Caicedo.

Paris Saint-Germain (4-4-2): M Landreau — S Traoré, Z Camara, G Bourillon, S Mamadou — F Pancrate (sub: L Giuly, 69), C Makelele (sub: S Armand, 59), J Clément, J Rothen — P Luyindula, M Kezman (sub: G Hoarau, 69). Substitutes not used: É Bete, Ceará, L Mabiala, G Ngoyi. Booked: Kezman.

Referee: B M Duarte Paixão (Portugal).

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Udinese, who are in the same Uefa Cup group as Tottenham Hotspur, advanced to the last 32 with a 2-1 win over Dynamo Zagreb yesterday in a match that was temporarily suspended when supporters of the Croatian side launched flares on to the field. Alon Yefet, the referee, stopped play for five minutes after Zagreb supporters started firing multiple flares. Igor Biscan, the captain, attempted to calm the fans down, but they threw objects again. Yefet restarted the game saying it would be permanently halted if another flare was thrown on to the field.