Manchester City secured their second win of the UEFA Champions League group stage with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marseille. The away side were completely dominant in the first-half, though it was disappointing to see them only lead by one goal that was scored by Ferran Torres.
Marseille did well to come back during the early stages of the restart, but their complacency in defence allowed the Premier League giants to kill the game through two late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling respectively.
Manchester City Player Ratings Vs Marseille
Ederson 6/10
Ederson looked a bit indecisive in dealing with Florian Thauvin’s thumping effort. But aside from that, the Brazilian had very little to do as Marseille managed only two shots on goal. An easy clean sheet.
Kyle Walker 8/10
Kyle Walker was a vital cog in the Manchester City backline. His sheer pace made his team much more effective in dealing with the Marseille attack as the likes of Nemanja Radonjic and Thauvin barely made an impact.
Ruben Dias 7.5/10
Ruben Dias was solid in defence, marshalling the Man City backline with his leadership and motivation. His tidiness at the back was also crucial in keeping Marseille at bay.
Aymeric Laporte 7/10
Aymeric Laporte had very little to do for the most part of the game, especially in the first half. The Frenchman did relatively well to help Manchester City keep a clean sheet before making way for John Stones.
Oleksandr Zinchenko 7.5/10
Had an excellent chance to double Manchester City’s lead in the first half. He was always an outlet on the left flank, providing a lot of support going forward. Taken off midway through the second half.
Ilkay Gundogan 8/10
Ilkay Gundogan was quite active in the game, with his tackles and interceptions. He was also impressive in scoring the second goal for Manchester City, effectively sealing all three points for his side, before making way for Bernardo Silva.
Rodri 7/10
Rodri played a key role in the build-up play, exchanging possession with his teammates and helping Manchester City retain their dominance on the proceedings.
Kevin de Bruyne 9/10
Kevin de Bruyne was heavily involved in Manchester City’s early pressure on Marseille. His brilliant disguised pass bamboozled the opposing defence, thus putting it on a platter for Torres. He also provided the cross that led to the third goal from Raheem Sterling. One of the best performances of the campaign from the Belgian so far.
Raheem Sterling 9/10
A constant threat on the right flank, Raheem Sterling made life difficult for the Marseille defenders. He was a menace on the ball, notably providing the assist for the de Bruyne goal before scoring one himself.
Ferran Torres 8.5/10
Operating in a more central role, Ferran Torres was smart in his game, positioning himself in clever positions. He deservedly scored the opener with a calm finish, though his influence faded in the second half.
Phil Foden 9/10
Phil Foden was one of the best performers of the night, providing quite a scare to the Marseille backline with his darting runs into the box. The Englishman’s industry led to the Gundogan goal even though Sterling provided the assist. A remarkable attacking display from the youngster.
SUBSTITUTES
Joao Cancelo 7/10
Offered a lot of freshness and solidity after replacing Zinchenko midway through the second half. Marseille barely managed to cause a threat after the Portuguese’s introduction to the game.
Riyad Mahrez 7/10
Linked up with de Bruyne in the build-up to the Sterling goal. The Algerian was a threat down the right-hand channel.
Bernardo Silva 6/10
Operated in the number eight position after replacing Gundogan during the final phase of the game. Rotated possession well.
John Stones 6/10
Was given a rare opportunity to feature as he replaced Laporte late in the game. Kept things neat and tidy.
Cole Palmer N/A
An exciting opportunity for the debutant who replaced de Bruyne in the 82nd minute.
