Manchester City completed a routine victory over FC Timisoara in the Europa League play-off at Eastlands.
Goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dedryck Boyata ensured the Blues go into the hat for the group stage draw.
The draw takes place at noon on Friday, and there are some possibly intriguing European adventures awaiting intrepid Blues fans.
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Among the top seeds the Blues could come up against when the next phase begins on September 16 are holders Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon.
Even without Monday night’s heroes James Milner, Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure, the Italian was still able to field a side packed with class and international experience.
Jo, as revealed by M.E.N. Sport, was given his first City start for 20 months alongside Emmanuel Adebayor, while David Silva was back after being left out of the more frantic Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Nineteen-year-old defender Boyata – highly rated by Mancini – was given his first game of the season with skipper for the night Vincent Kompany providing an older head by his side.
But City manager Roberto Manicni did have £102million of talent lined up on the bench just in case things did not go to plan.
He need not have worried. The Blues stamped their authority on proceedings from the off, with Nigel de Jong simply picking up where he left off on Monday night – Liverpool or lowly Romanain sides, they all come the same to the destructive Dutchman.
Boyata showed why he is seen as so promising with a performance of composure, as if he never been away, and Micah Richards was again a potent attacking threat as he ranged up and down the right flank.
City coach
Timisoara, strangely, were happy to sit back, presumably in the hope of frustrating the Blues and then picking up a cheeky goal in the second half.
That meant City, as in the first leg last week, had to be patient and creative, and in the opening 25 minutes, only a de Jong daisy-cutter and a blocked Pablo Zabaleta volley gave their keeper anything to worry about.
But, just as in the first leg, the opposition began to wilt, and City took full advantage.
Silva still looked off the pace, and trying to get sued to the physicality of these games, but managed to impose his class on proceedings once or twice.
Wright-Phillips battled hard to win the ball for the little Spaniard, and he placed a cross on the head of Jo, only denied a goal by a reflex save from keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Adebayor then arrowed through the heart of the visitors’ defence only to drag his shot wide, with the Timisoara defence beginning to wobble.
The breakthrough came on 43 minutes, again begun by good work from Richards on the right. De Jong collected the ball from his tackle and fed Vieira, who spotted Wright-Phillips’ dash inside from the flank.
The pass was perfect and Wright-Phillips swept in his first goal of the season with the minimum of fuss.
That set the platform, and the Blues went into cruise control in the second half.
Silva’s quality was in evidence again as he swung a long, deep free kick beyond the defence and Boyata peeled away to head in his first goal for the Blues.
It was now a question of how many, and within moments of Boyata’s goal Adebayor rushed onto a poor Ovidiu Burca back-pass before turning his shot wide of the post.
And Silva almost grabbed a first City goal as the Blues began to play intricate triangles around the box, and he darted in for a one-on-one with Pantilimon, only to find the angle too acute.
As in his previous two appearances, Silva grew into the game and by the end was starting to look something approaching a £24million man.
But the goal eluded him, despite his teammates desperately trying to tee him up for a goal which would help him settle to his task.
In the end, it was a professional display by the Blues, doing enough to see off the limited opposition put up by poor opponents, and giving valuable match time to players who did not figure against Liverpool.
There are much tougher challenges ahead in this competition.
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Boyata, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, De Jong (Cunningham, 64), Vieira, Silva, Adebayor, Jo.
Subs not used: Given, Lescott, Toure Yaya, Barry, Tevez, Adam Johnson.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
Comments
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a proffesional performance from the lads tonight, just did enough to win it. Silva looked good tonight, getting into his rythmn which was good to see, and great to see Boyata get his first goal for the club. What I have been impressed with is the way City are playing the passing game,from front to back they are all looking comfortable on the ball, and that horrible long ball hoof looks to have been banished for the good. looking forward to seeing the raw tomorrow see where we will be going
Professional performance, took time to get going but once they did they never look troubled at all. Boyata played a blinder as did Silva, we are really starting to see a gem there. Now bring on Sunderland and let the points tally continue. Hope we get a good draw tomorrow for the groups stages. Thought the game was ok and importantly kept a clean sheet again, shame the stadium was half full but maybe it will be during the groups stages.
Brilliant performance in keepy bally
They did just as much as they had to. 66% possession. Not exciting but another win and another clean sheet.
Timisoara manager looked like alex ferguson after a facelift.
Nice and easy win. The other team played a ten man defence. Well done to all the players.
am happy that we have finally won this game and nothing to complain about we are going to play in the europa league and then bring home the europa cup for the first time..the blue moon is arising...hope someone can tell me about the game and how our players perforrned...the sky is blue
Watched it over the internet here in Germany and it was EASY.. Could have easily been 7-0. An accomplished performance by the lads..
Was a good game, hard first half but 2nd we cruised nice to see yet another Clean Sheet - four in a row now 8D
Several solid perfomances against lets face it, second rate opposition. Adebayour and Jo didn't bring too much to the table though, though Jo was the one probably more involved perversely...
Silva is lacking game time, but when he's a couple of months in, he looks like he'll be a shining star!
Viera, now more fit seemed to roll back the years somewhat, great squad player in my book.
De Jong is a beast and deserves the pit-bull nickname, the day he shirks a tackle is the day I eat my own ahole.
yea yea
Good and profesional;job done by City did't play great but what you expect not a full house at Eastlands with 7 changes good to see Boyata scoreing.
Another professional performance from what I saw...another clean sheet...the 2nd team worked hard, silva had glimpses of what we can expect, SWP looked dangerous enough, great goal from Boyata (if only we could score more from defence). Adebayor didn't look too clever and if Mancini rates Zlatan, let's swap him. Just imagine the squad then...tevez, balotelli, ibrahimovic, silva, milner, johnson, yaya, de jong etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. It's our time to shine, so what price for the league this season, gotta be worth an outside bet. We did the double over chelski, beat arsenal and run utd very very close last season...you never know.
De Jong was outstanding. He just gets better and better.
Silva improved as the game went on and it was nice to see Boyata get a goal.
We never really had to get out of 2nd gear but put in a comfortable professional performance. Good result.
bit to easy,but well done
went through the motions but some good movement, some nice passing and once again solid defensivly and organised - just pedestrian thats all. but no injuries and more game time for our new look squad.........
silva was a little rusty with a few final balls but he was looking to get on the ball all the time and kept trying to drive forward. he's still settling in but i was pleased with his attitude and desire to take responsibility with possession.
boyata for me, and some may slate me for this, is already looking a better centre back than richard dunne in my opinion, certainly more technicaly and tactily gifted and although he's very young he's physically strong. i rate this lad big time..............
p.s - ade please try and stay onside a bit more....................
Job done....wonder what kind of shock Stevie Ireland is having at the moment?
It was like a training game for us, we played very well and there was some very good football on display to. We commanded the game and had the most possession again and another clean sheet well played City bring on the group stages.
THE FUTURES BRIGHT THE FUTURES BLUE
THE BLUEMOON IS RISING
CTID
Boyata is going to be a really good player for City. We now have so many young and excellent players that it does make one optimistic for the clubs future - cheque book apart.
Thank's a million MCFC....I don't have Sky/Eurosport etc etc. So it was great to be able to watch it live on the internet courtesy of live.mcfc.co.uk & what's more all free and for gratis!
Hate to think what it would have cost me (god forbid) if I was unlucky enough to have been born a United Supporter and logging in to a red game!!
MCFC are doing everything right to continue to build on developing the Manchester City we have all loved for so many years. Believe it you loyal Blues' supporters, this really is the real deal!
Thank you again, Sheikh Mansour!
TTFN
A competent workman like performance - wouldn't say it was easy though - they never gave up and are fit and strong - we worked hard to dominate them - well done all CTID
a walk in the park,really,nice to see the lads getting game time. silva was pering,this fellor ouzes class,boyata top draw,dejong m.o.m another clean sheet, nuff said really.
the real mark jones
Anyone remember the last UEFA Cup campaign under Hughes, how we labored through even some of the early rounds? People have always said, City never make it easy on themselves do they?
Well, that was as easy a game of football as you're ever likely to see. We didn't need a goal, but got 2 just to be safe. Joe Hart had no saves to make and for most of the game they never set foot in our half. For much of the match they were just resigned to defeat, knowing that they were completely outmatched.
A million miles away from the old "typical City".
Practically a walk in the park for the lads tonight. Very comfortable. De Jong superb and Zab put in a great shift. Boyata just keeps getting better and can see him becoming a regular in the not too distant future, and Richards looks like he might be getting back to his old self. Glimpses of what we can expect from David Silva, but I'm afraid Jo is just not going to hack it for me. Think we may be looking for another striker come January. Dzeko???
how things come back and bite you on the a*se,judas ireland must be thinking,as he sulks in bed tonight,why did i open my big daft,stupid mouth,i dont think milner can believe his luck.
the real mark jones.
Sorry to veer off topic but when I saw that esso Blue said the Timisoara manager looked like SAF after a facelift, I got the idea for this little poem about myself...
(Once again, Mr MEN Moderator, please keep same format, thank you)
Give me Botox on me boatrace
And Lipo on me legs
Contacts for me mincers
`Cos they look like two fried eggs
A syrup for me cranium
`Cos me own hair`s getting thin
Hair-dye for me eyebrows
And a face-lift for me chin
Two inches off me belly
And some fake tan for me chest
A set of pearly dentures
`Cos me own teeth soon went west
A manicure, a pedicure
And then perhaps I might
Look like someone`s fella
`Stead of someone`s scary night !!
Good win and no complaints. Another win in the mentality bank.