Manchester City is already in the 2017/18 Champions League quarter-finals.
Pep Guardiola’s men bossed Basel at the St. Jakob Park, and with how the hosts were playing, they are easily out of the tie.
First half:
The visitors started well, and 14 minutes into the 1st half Gundogan found the back of the net. He beat the keeper with a powerful headed effort, guiding the ball past the keeper. The crucial away goal came early.
Bernardo Silva scored a beauty 4 minutes later, to get City their second of the night. A cross from De Bruyne was deflected into Silva’s path, and he took one touch to get it on to his left foot before lifting his strike over Vaclik, who got a hand to the ball, but it was not strong enough to keep it out.
Kun Aguero joined the party in the 23rd minute, drilling a powerful strike into the bottom corner. The goalkeeper for sure did not see that, as he stood rooted, watching the ball hit the corner. City was in dreamland, killing the game even before the half-hour mark.
The Cityzens kept pushing for more, as usual, with Vaclik being forced to make several instinctive saves to keep the scoreline at 3-0.
HT 0-3
Second half:
Just a minute in and Vaclik was again forced to come to his side’s aid. Though to be fair to City, De Bruyne fired his shot straight at him.
Elyounoussi tried to bring his side back in the 49th minute, striking a half-volley from 25 yards and he caught Ederson slightly off guard. The City keeper had to fling himself to his left and just managed to get his fingertips on it to guide the ball past the post.
4-0 in the 53rd minute and that was the final nail in the coffin. Gundogan had his brace. He curled his effort towards the top corner and the ball sailed into the back of the net. A fantastic strike. He was denied his hat-trick in the 74th minute by Vaclik, who made a desperate dive to make the save.
FT 0-4
Basel was toothless and offered little when they attacked. City would have easily hammered them 7+ goals, and this 4-0 win is like a mercy beating. One can only imagine how many they will get in the second leg, at the Etihad.
Confirmed lineups:
Basel XI: Vaclik, Lang, Lacroix, Riveros, Suchy, Frei, Xhaka, Stocker, Serey Die, Elyounoussi, Oberlin.
Subs: Salvi, Petretta, Zuffi, Van Wolfswinkel, Ajeti, Manzambi, Bua.
Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero.
Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Sane, Silva, Foden.
