Man City 3-1 Sevilla: Player ratings as City remain unbeaten in group stages
Manchester City retained their unbeaten run in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, coming from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Sevilla had taken a shock lead in the first half, but goals from 17-year-old Rico Lewis, Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez secured the win for the home side.
Inside the opening two minutes Cole Palmer almost gave City the lead. A poor clearance from Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was latched onto by Jack Grealish on the left corner of the penalty area. The England international slid the ball into the path of Alvarez who, after holding up well, teed up Palmer who fired just over the crossbar.
City would once again come close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute, when Ruben Dias deflected a brilliant Phil Foden set piece wide of the post.
Another chance would be spurned 10 minutes later when Ilkay Gundogan could only fire wide when played brilliantly through on goal by Foden on the left of the penalty area.
The home side were made to rue these missed chances on the half-hour mark when former Wolves man Rafa Mir nodded home an Isco corner kick back across goal and into the bottom corner of the City net.
Sevilla started to look a bit more like the 18th best team in La Liga at the start of the second half, allowing City to deservedly level through youngster Lewis. The 17-year-old latched onto a lovely through ball from Alvarez before firing high into the roof of the goal.
Pep Guardiola's men almost took the lead moments later, but Bounou was on hand to tip a Ruben Dias header clear of danger.
They did eventually get their second goal when substitute Kevin De Bruyne brilliantly played through Alvarez with a wonderful first time pass behind the Sevilla defence. After collecting the ball, the Argentine breezed past Bounou and coolly bagged his second ever Champions League goal.
City would make it 3-1 before the end of the game, when Alvarez stole the ball back high up the field before feeding through to Mahrez who subsequently made no mistake with his effort on goal - side-footing into the top corner.
1. Manchester City (4-3-3)
GK - Stefan Ortega - 5/10 - Could do nothing about the goal.
RB - Rico Lewis - 8/10 - Scored his first senior goal in the Champions League at 17 years of age.
CB - Ruben Dias - 5/10 - Caught napping at the back post, allowing Mir to score.
CB - Aymeric Laporte - 5/10 - Struggled with Mir's sheer physicality.
LB - Sergi Gomez - 6/10 - Got forward well on the left flank.
CM - Phil Foden - 7/10 - City's real live-wire in attack.
CM - Ilkay Gundogan - 5/10 - A mediocre outing for the German international.
CM - Cole Palmer - 5/10 - Tidy in possession but didn't do anything particularly eye-catching.
RW - Riyad Mahrez - 6/10 - Quiet but got his goal in the 84th minute.
ST - Julian Alvarez - 9/10 - Lovely through ball to assist City's leveller, then scored the second goal himself, and then bagged another assist. He's a serious player.
LW - Jack Grealish - 4/10 - Some pretty touches, but not many effective ones. Subbed off at half-time.
SUB - Bernardo Silva - 6/10 - Came on and added a bit of spark to City's play.
SUB - Rodri - 6/10 - Solid as per.
SUB - Josh Wilson-Esbrand - N/A.
SUB - Kevin De Bruyne - 7/10 - Came off the bench and immediately set up a goal. He's just too good.