Pep Guardiola’s team never seemed to get out of second gear yet were still steadily on top of their opponents through the match. City cut through Middlesbrough at will, even if they weren’t able to find the net, and they were able to make it through to the next round without too much energy spent ahead of some tricky fixtures.
It could have been a much more comfortable afternoon had City’s attack finished off their chances, meaning the odd break from the home side wouldn’t have caused as much stress in the away end as they did. It was also a fairly “industrial” performance from Middlesbrough, with several rough challenges throughout the match.
7 — Guardiola went for the tie and named a strong lineup, but will he rue the decision with a tough fixture list to come?
GK Claudio Bravo, 6 — It wasn’t the busiest of afternoons for the goalkeeper. He was comfortable with the ball at his feet but needed bailing out twice with goal-line clearances after only being able to glance a touch onto some ‘Boro efforts on target.
DF Pablo Zabaleta, 8 — The Argentine was tireless working up and down the right flank. He was continually finding space and assisted the first goal. He was also well placed and aware to clear from the line late in the first half.
DF Nicolas Otamendi, 7 — The centre-back was dominant in the air and comfortable in possession. He went wandering at times defensively, but was confident enough to carry the ball into midfield as Middlesbrough backed off.
DF John Stones, 7 — There was a great goal-line clearance from John Stones after he reacted well to a mini-deflection from a Bravo touch, though there were some slack passes in the first half that could have given the hosts the chance to equalise.
DF Gael Clichy, 6 — The Frenchman was solid, if not spectacular, on Saturday. There were some good tackles, notably in the first half as Adama Traore tried to break but that was about it.
MF Yaya Toure, 7 — It was more of a reserved performance from the Ivorian international than in City’s last away match at Sunderland, but he still controlled the midfield with deft passing and tackling. He kept finding the ball over the top to the runners or the flank and brushed aside all pressure from the hosts.
MF Kevin De Bruyne, 6 — The Belgian is looking really out of sorts at the moment. His work rate has never dropped and he’s continually trying, but it’s just not happening for him at the moment. This was another game where he struggled to unlock the opposition.
MF David Silva, 8 — If De Bruyne is finding it had to get through, David Silva is having the same effect as a knife through hot butter. Every time he got on the ball, he found a way through the ‘Boro defence and created chances at will. He was composed to finish early on, too.
MF Raheem Sterling, 7 — The winger was unlucky not to have found the net, as he fluffed two chances in the six-yard box and hit a great effort from the edge of the box to force a good save. However, Sterling was always dangerous even if he couldn’t stop slipping on a greasy surface.
MF Leroy Sane, 8 — Has there been a more exciting player to watch at City in the last few years than Leroy Sane? Every time his teammates got the ball, he made dynamic runs in behind the ‘Boro defence on the left. In possession, he had the beating of his full-back, and continually danced into the box to create chance after chance.
FW Sergio Aguero, 8 — Another week, another performance showing how the Argentinian fits into Guardiola’s idea of a centre-forward. Again, Aguero dropped deep to get involved in the play, and he was in the right place to finish smartly to secure the game.
MF Nolito, 6 — The Spaniard was a solid presence on the left after replacing Sane on 69 minutes, but there wasn’t much to write home about as City saw out the game.
MF Fernando, NR — On for Toure with four minutes left, Fernando kept things ticking over.
FW Kelechi Iheanacho, NR — The youngster might have hoped for more than the two minutes of stoppage time he got after replacing Aguero.
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