Florent Malouda's searching run allowed Franck Ribery to tee-up Nasri for a clinical strike from theedgeofthe penalty area that flew past his City team-mate, Joe Hart, six minutes before half-time.
Barton, on as a substitute for the injured Claudio Reyna, struck with a fine effort from theedgeofthearea to reduce the deficit to a solitary goal again, but City were unable to pull level.