Manchester City have booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a comprehensive 5-2 home victory over CSKA Moscow in Group D.
Sergio Aguero scored twice in the first half and Alvaro Negredo completed his hat-trick in the second minute of injury time, as Manuel Pellegrini's side made it nine points from four matches in the group stage of the competition.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the match in Manchester.
Match statistics:
Manchester City:
Shots 15
On target 9
Possession 59%
Corners 6
Fouls 15
CSKA Moscow:
Shots 12
On target 6
Possession 41%
Corners 2
Fouls 5
Was the result fair?
It was very much a fair result. City dominated the contest from literally the first minute and fully deserved their comprehensive victory. At no point did Pellegrini's side look like they could be beaten, and they always had the upper hand. CSKA did give themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half time when they made it 3-1, but the Citizens came out in the second half with a positive vibe and took everything in their stride. It was a masterclass display from the home team, even though their opponents were mediocre at best.
City's performance
Attacking-wise, City cannot be doubted. The likes of Aguero, Negredo, Samir Nasri, David Silva and Yaya Toure all played their roles and looked very much at ease with each other. Their passing and movement in the final third was sensational, with the pairing of Aguero and Negredo up front looking more and more the best Pellegrini could have asked for this season. However, defensively the former English champions appeared shaky on occasions – thus the two goals they conceded against a mediocre CSKA team. Their Chilean coach would have realised that City's defence needs to be worked on.
CSKA's performance
CSKA did look like they could string a few passes together when they had the ball and threatened to press on especially in the early stages, but when they did not have the ball, they looked clueless. Defensively the Russian champions looked lost as well and crumbled against the incessant City pressure. Coach Leonid Slutsky will need to reassess his team after this contest and will have to make a few of his players work harder.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Sergio Aguero: Negredo scored a hat-trick and really lit up in the second half, but it was Aguero's all-round performance in the first 45 minutes that set City on their path to victory. The Argentina international striker scored in the third minute from the penalty spot and made it 2-0 to the hosts in the 21st minute with a wonderfully taken goal. The 25-year-old was also the architect-in-chief of his side's third and Negredo's first, winning the ball himself in midfield before playing a lovely one-two with the Spanish striker.
Biggest gaffe
Gael Clichy conceded a needless penalty when he brought down Seydou Doumbia in the 71st minute. There was really no need to trip the CSKA striker, but perhaps the full-back became frustrated at letting his opponent get past him in the first place.
Referee performance
Carlos Velasco Carballo has a good game and was helped by the fact that he did not have to make any tough decisions. Both the penalties that he awarded were correct calls and he made sure that the game was played at a good pace with few stoppages.
What next?
City: City will return to Premier League action on Sunday when they take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
CSKA:The Moscow outfit will hope to continue their winning run in the Russian Premier League when they host Terek Grozny on Sunday.
Subhankar Mondal
