FEYENOORD 0, MANCHESTER CITY 4
Full strength Manchester City scored three times in the first 25 minutes at Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium to win their first away game against Dutch opposition at the third attempt.
City emphatically thrashed the Dutch champions with a stunning first half display to win their first game in Holland at the third attempt with a pair of John Stones goals bookending efforts by Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
It was the first defeat suffered by Feyenoord at home this calendar year who looked completely awed by a City side which finished with 70% possession, and eight shots on target.
Ederson retained his place in the side after recovering sufficiently from a boot to the face by Sadio Mane which earned the Liverpool striker a red card at the weekend although the Brazilian ‘keeper wore a Petr Cech style scrum cap.
Danilo stepped down to the bench to be replaced by Bernardo Silva as City boss Pep Guardiola went for an attacking formation and promptly put the Dutch champions to the sword.
City took the lead after 95 seconds when John Stones’ header from David Silva’s cross went through the legs of Tonny Wilhena who was behind Brad Jones in the Feyenoord goal.
Sergio Aguero’s tenth minute volley doubled City’s lead after Kyle Walker lit up the right flank and put in a low cross with Feyenoord still shell shocked.
Michiel Kramer briefly gave the home side hope with a shot driven into the side netting but the game was effectively up after just 25 minutes when Feyenoord failed to clear a City corner and Gabriel Jesus scored on his Champions League debut with a tap-in after the home defence stopped playing expecting Nicolas Otamendi to be flagged offside.
The third goal may have been unfair on Feyenoord but it could have been even worse for the Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side during a one-sided first half – Jesus had a header cleared off the line while Aguero forced a save out of Brad Jones.
Unable to get close to City, Feyenoord opted to start fouling the visitors but only earned three quick bookings before the break as City went in having had 71% of the ball.
It was truly game over in the after 63 minutes when Kevin De Bruyne’s pinpoint cross was converted by John Stones with a towering header to double his City tally.
With thoughts turning to Watford at the weekend Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Leroy Sane came on during the second half for Sergio Aguero, David Silva, and Fernandinho.
Sterling and Sane were denied by Jones as City went into cruise control but in truth the points had long been in the bag for the Blues who amazingly ended with an impressive 72% overall possession.