Manchester City's Champions League campaign is well and truly back on track, after their 3-0 hammering of Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine tonight.
Shakhtar had never previously lost a home game to English opposition, but there was little doubt about tonight's result right from the kick-off.
Manchester City dominated right from the off, which was portrayed by this incredible possession stat after 12 minutes.
Just the 97% of possession for Man City then....#SHAMCI https://t.co/9XYR1W29ub pic.twitter.com/72dFfC9ixi
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 23, 2018
Clearly the Ukranian champions were struggling to get on the ball, and Guardiola's side made their dominance count in the 30th minute.
Benjamin Mendy's played a pass to Gabriel Jesus on the edge of the area. He swivelled, before the ball rebounded off a Shakhtar defender and into the path of David Silva. With the ball dropping from a height, the Spaniard executed a wonderful volley, burying the ball in the bottom corner.
They doubled their lead only four minutes later, after Aymeric Laporte was granted far too much space in the penalty area. The defender did not even have to jump to connect with the incoming cross, producing a wonderful looping header to lead the goalkeeper with no chance.
You can see both goals below.
29 mins: 0-0.
34 mins: 0-2.
🔵🔵
Good night for Man City so far in Ukraine!
Live on Virgin Media Sport Extra 1!#VMSport #UCL pic.twitter.com/4BIRMsmS6A— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 23, 2018
David Silva in particular was in scintillating form, and was an absolute menace to the opposing defence.
David Silva First Half
👟 32 Passes
🎯 94% Pass Accuracy
🔘 5 Ball Recoveries
🔑 5 Chances Created
👟 3 Shots
⚽️ 1 Goal#MCFC pic.twitter.com/zuThgTqsfD— EPL Statman (@EPLStatman) October 23, 2018
This again https://t.co/8LJ1d5t2tX
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) October 23, 2018
Paul Pogba (7) is the only Manchester United player to have created more chances in the Champions League this season than David Silva (5) did in the first half vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.
😳 pic.twitter.com/fpV8mnzkBO— Squawka (@Squawka) October 23, 2018
The result was never in doubt from here on in, although the hosts did start to get on the ball a bit more as the game progressed. They failed to threaten the City goal however, and they put the game beyond their reach on the 70th minute.
Bernardo Silva started a counter-attack deep in his own own half, picking up the loose ball after a Fernandinho tackle. He advanced up the pitch before playing a quick one-two with Riyad Mahrez, going on to finish wonderfully from the edge of the box.
"Bernardo Silva. Bernardo Silva. Is he going to score? He is!"
City go from back to front in 10s and make it 3-0! #VMSport #UCL pic.twitter.com/obN97AnKMX— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 23, 2018
The result leaves Manchester City sitting top of the group, after Lyon were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim.
