Club Brugge 1-5 Manchester City: Player ratings as Cityzens stroll to victory
By Sean Walsh
Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Champions League with a resounding 5-1 victory at Club Brugge on Tuesday.
The Cityzens were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain before the international break, but have at least ensured they've taken six points from a possible nine at the halfway stage in Group A, following a dominant display in Belgium.
Jack Grealish had the ball in the net after 10 minutes with a lovely dink over Simon Mignolet, but was adjudged to have pushed Clinton Mata and the goal was ruled out.
City had another strike disallowed soon after. Aymeric Laporte strayed offside from a free kick and his assist across goal for Rodri was chalked off.
Joao Cancelo did manage to legally give City the lead on the half-hour mark. Phil Foden dropped into midfield and played a superb pass over the top, and the Portugal full-back slotted the ball between Mignolet's legs and into the net.
Pep Guardiola's side were awarded a penalty in the dying embers of the first half when Stanley N'Soki clattered into Riyad Mahrez, and the Algerian made no mistake from the spot.
City continued carving Brugge open, and Kyle Walker put the win beyond doubt with a low strike just after the break.
Substitutes Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling compounded Brugge's misery when they combined to add a fourth. Sterling broke clear down the left flank and picked out his 19-year-old teammate with ease, and he slotted it into the bottom corner for his first European goal.
Hans Vanaken pulled one back for the home side with ten minutes remaining following a decent spell of possession, poking a loose ball beyond Ederson's reach.
Mahrez restored the four-goal advantage on the counter attack with an emphatic finish into Mignolet's top corner as City saw out the win in style.
Here are your player ratings from the game...
Manchester City player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Ederson (GK) - 6/10 - Had so little to do.
Kyle Walker (RB) - 9/10 - Supreme performance. Commanded his flank all night long.
Ruben Dias (CB) - 7/10 - Stood tall and was never beaten at the back.
Aymeric Laporte (CB) - 5/10 - Booked for a late challenge on Kamal Sowah. Not sure there was much contact but the Spaniard has a habit of getting into these situations.
Joao Cancelo (LB) - 9/10 - A great goal capped off what was a pretty much flawless performance.
2. Midfielders
Rodri (DM) - 7/10 - Recovered the ball well and kept it ticking in possession.
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - 6/10 - Injuries appear to be taking their toll on the Belgian, who doesn't look like the athletic or technical freak he once was. Did get an assist for his troubles, mind.
Bernardo Silva (CM) - 7/10 - Had real joy driving forward and dictating play in the final third.
3. Forwards
Riyad Mahrez (RW) - 8/10 - Scored two goals and still had a quiet night by his own standards.
Phil Foden (CF) - 8/10 - Dropped deep, played in the channels, led the line, all in the same game and all at a top level.
Jack Grealish (LW) - 6/10 - Looked a little dangerous but you were left wanting to see more end product.
4. Substitutes
Nathan Ake (CB) - 6/10
Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - 6/10
Cole Palmer (CM) - 8/10 - What a moment for the young man.
Raheem Sterling (CF) - 7/10 - An impressive cameo.
Fernandinho (DM) - 6/10