THE VERDICT: SHAKHTAR 0 CITY 3
SEVEN years ago yesterday, the man the City fans call Merlin waved his wand of a left foot to complete the humiliation of United.
And in another big match, the little Spanish wizard that is David Silva was at it again, using his magical limb to ease the Blues’ early Champions League agitation.
His volleyed pass against the Reds, effortlessly dissecting a disbelieving defence at Old Trafford, remains an abiding memory of that record 6-1 victory.
And while this goal, a spanking shot into the far corner when a Shakhtar defender’s block span teasingly into the air, will not be remembered in the same way, the technique was equally sorcerous.
No English team had ever beaten the proud Ukrainian outfit on their own soil, with Arsenal (twice), Spurs, Chelsea and City themselves all losing here, while United and Fulham both had to settle for draws.
In fact, no English team had ever scored more than one goal against the Ukrainian champions on their home soil – City bagged three and might have doubled that. This result was barely in doubt, right from the off. With just three of the starters from last season’s defeat in Kharkiv in their starting XI – the Brazil trio Ederson, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus – this Blues outfit were a wholly different proposition. They hounded Shakhtar into hurried passes and costly mistakes, and even though their finishing was profligate – Riyad Mahrez spurned two great chances and Jesus did the same – it never felt like there would be any other outcome. Silva’s volleyed goal was the pay-off for City dominance, after half-an-hour, and five minutes later Aymeric Laporte doubled the lead. Kevin de Bruyne, back in the starting line-up, arced a corner perfectly onto Laporte’s head - although the French defender might complain that he had to stoop slightly to guide it expertly into the far corner. City were in complete control until proud Shakhtar staged a fightback in the second half. They began to play City at their own Stuart Brennan None Silva (30), Laporte (35), Bernardo (70) 52% 24 5 48% 14 5 37,106 Krivtsov Otamendi Carlos del Cerro Grande game, playing out from the back and defeating the Blues’ press, which was affected by De Bruyne’s lack of match fitness and Fernandinho sitting deep.
Guardiola tackled that by putting on Bernardo Silva, a player he trusts to close out games like this.
Bernardo DID close out the game, but not by defending - his first involvement saw him charge forward, play the ball out to Mahrez, and then take the return before driving hard at the defence and scoring off the far post.
That wobble against Lyon at the Etihad seems a long way away now, and the Blues have daylight between them and third place.