Manchester City continued their winning form by beating Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad Stadium 2-0. Below is City’s starting XI and substitutes ratings.
Ederson Moraes (8)- Made a couple of great saves in the first half to thwart Shakhtar. Had nothing to do in the second half due to City’s utter dominance.
Kyle Walker (7)- Couple of nice runs down the right side and also used his pace well to defend. Struggled a bit more second half to deal with the tricky Brazilian winger Bernard.
John Stones (7)- Great ball into Gabriel Jesus in the sixth minute. Defended well throughout and was a solid unit in the centre of defence with Otamendi.
Nicolas Otamendi (7)- Defended well to cut out a dangerous cross from Shakhtar. Did a good job with Stones in the centre.
Fabian Delph (7)- Did well in an unnatural position of left back. He got down the left flank well and defended incredibly well, making some great tackles and interceptions.
Kevin De Bruyne (9) – Made some poor passes early on in the first ten minutes. Great chance on the half-hour mark after being played in on the left edge of the box by Jesus but his tucked his effort round the post.
Opened his account for the season in the 47th minute as he curled the ball into the top right-hand corner. Was all over the place getting involved in both the defensive and attacking areas of the pitch. Great square pass across the box for Raheem Sterling who should have scored.
Fernandinho (6) – Did a good bit of defensive work to Deny Fred a one on one with Ederson had he not made the tackle and also cut out a dangerous cross in the first 13 minutes.
David Silva (7) – Made a nice run into the box early onto to latch onto Jesus’s pass but unfortunately could not get the ball under control. Great pass across the edge of the box to set up De Bruyne to score. Another great pass to lift it over the defence and played in Sergio Aguero but his effort was well saved. Substituted in the 80th minute.
Gabriel Jesus (6) – Made a great run which Stones saw and made the pass to him he then cut the ball back to D.Silva whose touch let him down. Great interceptions to nick to ball back in the midfield and then to play the pass into De Bruyne path. Substituted in the 53rd minute for Raheem Sterling.
Sergio Aguero (7) – Had an early chance where he cut inside onto his right foot after coming deep from the left side, but it went well wide for a throw-in. Another chance where he got in behind but it was straight at the Shakhtar Donetsk keeper. Great run in the 55th minute which D. Silva saw but his effort was straight at the Shakhtar keeper. With 20 minutes to go his penalty was saved. He then had another chance in the 77th minute when he fired wide from outside the box. Substituted in the 84th minute.
Leroy Sané (7) – Had a great chance towards the end of the first half as he drifted in off the left flank and then past a couple of defenders and slotted his shot past the right-hand post. Had another effort where he drifted off the left flank again and shot straight at the keeper. Great run in the 70th minute to get brought down for a penalty. Another chance with four minutes left as gets in behind and cut inside but shot straight at the keeper.
Substitutes:
Raheem Sterling (7)- came on in the 53rd minute. Should have scored 15 minutes after coming on when he slotted past the post when it was easier to score. Finally scored in the 89th minute, as Bernardo cut back found Sterling who put it in off the underside of the bar.
Ikay Gundogan (N/A)- Hard to rate as he only came on with ten minutes to go.
Bernardo Silva (6)- Great run to get in behind on the right side and then a great cutback to set up Sterling.
