The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
City stroll to victory after early strikes
City produced an outstanding performance to open their seventh successive Champions League campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win in Rotterdam.
John Stones headed two goals with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also on target as City ran riot at De Kuip t4o spoil the Dutch champions’ return to the competition after a 15-year absence.
Stones set the tone for a dominant display by claiming the opener in the second minute and the game was effectively over inside 25 minutes as Aguero and Jesus struck.
Stones’ second just after the hour wrapped up the victory and left City looking strong already in Group F ahead of back-to-back home games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli.
It proved a good night to reintroduce Ederson to the action.
The goalkeeper played wearing protective headgear after his nasty collision with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane last weekend but he was rarely tested.
City simply swept Feyenoord away in a spell-binding opening half-hour that delighted manager Pep Guardiola.
Their movement was outstanding and the hosts were caught out numerous times by their onetouch passing with Kevin De Bruyne at the heart of much of the good play.
Stones told BT Sport: “I don’t get on the score-sheet too much but I’m trying to bring more goals to my game.
“I’m just happy that I could help tonight. When the delivery’s so good ... Kevin kind of puts it on a plate for you.
“I’m trying to work as hard as I can to become better each day and keep improving as I listen to the manager’s advice.
“I keep learning off the players, like Kevin. Even though we don’t play in the same position we’re always training together and it’s only going to make us better players.”
De Bruyne said: “If you score three goals fairly early in the game it gives you more control but I think all around we did very well.
“The last 20 minutes was a bit less (good) and the pitch was getting bobbly with the conditions. It was a very good game from us and a good start to the Champions League.”
Guardiola said: “Last season we were not able to win one away game in the Champions League, and if you want to take a step forward then we need to be important both at home and away.”
Shakhtar won 2-1 against Napoli with Taison and Facundo Ferreyra on target. The Italian side grabbed a consolation with a penalty from Arkadiusz Milik.