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Manchester City took a huge stride towards qualification for the Champions League last 16 with a commanding 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.<\/p>\nManchester City took a huge stride towards qualification for the Champions League last 16 with a commanding 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Manager Pep Guardiola may have claimed City are not yet be ready to win the competition in the build-up to the game in Kharkiv, but they underlined their status as favorites with an outstanding performance.<\/p>\n
David Silva twice hit the woodwork before rewarding the visitors for their early dominance with the opening goal after half-an-hour and Aymeric Laporte quickly added a second. Bernardo Silva came off the bench to wrap up a victory that took City to the top of Group F 19 minutes from time.<\/p>\n
City were beaten on their last visit to the Metalist Stadium but there never seemed any danger of a repeat and one statistic emphasized their dominance as they recorded 24 shots.<\/p>\n
They looked comfortable from the first whistle as they calmly stroked the ball about for almost three minutes before creating a chance for David Silva, which the Spaniard hooked on to the bar.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov always seemed confident the looping effort was missing, but it was an early statement of City\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n
Kevin De Bruyne, making his first start of the season, had a shot blocked and Gabriel Jesus, preferred up front to Sergio Aguero, was almost played in by David Silva.<\/p>\n
Riyad Mahrez spurned a great chance when Raheem Sterling, back in the side after sitting out Saturday\u2019s defeat of Burnley, found him on a quick counter-attack, but the Algerian delayed and missed the target.<\/p>\n
Mahrez then forced a save from Pyatov before curling in a fine cross from which David Silva hit a post. Jesus blasted the rebound wide and Sterling also missed but the opener eventually came.<\/p>\n
David Silva finished clinically with a superb low volley after a Jesus shot was deflected into his path.<\/p>\n
City wanted more and Benjamin Mendy forced Pyatov to save with a spectacular effort from distance.<\/p>\n
Their second came from the resulting corner as Shakhtar left Laporte unmarked and the Frenchman calmly guided De Bruyne\u2019s corner into the top corner.<\/p>\n
Despite his side\u2019s dominance, Guardiola did show his frustration when his side lost possession a few times. That occasionally allowed the hosts to break, but City recovered with John Stones, again playing right-back, particularly impressive at the back.<\/p>\n
Shakhtar did get one good opening from a corner, but Mykola Matviyenko headed wide, while Laporte blocked another effort from Maycon.<\/p>\n
Silva and Mahrez both missed opportunities to extend City\u2019s lead early in the second half and Jesus also dragged a shot wide. Shakhtar did come into the game more, but Junior Moraes headed wide from one of their better chances and substitute Alan Patrick also curled a shot outside a post.<\/p>\n
Guardiola decided to freshen up his side by sending on Bernardo Silva for De Bruyne and it proved an inspired piece of thinking. Within a minute of coming off the bench, the Portuguese set off on a run from near the halfway line and dribbled to the edge of the box before firing in a low shot shot off the base of a post.<\/p>\n
That allowed City to ease off but Ederson stayed alert to deny Fernando a consolation and Sterling almost added another as he thumped a shot against the bar in injury time.<\/p>\n