Manchester City wrapped up their Champions League group with a 3-1 win over Sevilla in Wednesday’s dead rubber.
Pep Guardiola’s men already knew they’d top the group prior to the clash with the Spanish side but came from a goal behind to take another three points. City trailed 1-0 at the break courtesy of Rafa Mir’s goal, before 17-year Rico Lewis netted the equaliser on his first start for the club. Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez also got on the scoresheet in the second half to hand City all three points.
The Blues dominated the first half but found it difficult to get past Sevilla’s low block. Cole Palmer did go close after just two minutes, but blazed his shot over inside the box.
City’s next chance saw the ball flash just wide after Ruben Dias got a scruffy touch to a free-kick, and soon after Rico Lewis’s strike from distance sailed the wrong side of Yassin Bounou’s post. Then Ilkay Gundogan hit the side netting on 27 minutes, before Riyad Mahrez fired a volley over as the hosts’ onslaught continued.
Sevilla had only gone close with a Mir header, but on 30 minutes it was the same player who broke the deadlock. The striker rose highest in the box from a corner and, virtually unmarked, powered a header into the back of the net.
Jack Grealish ended the half by seeing a shot saved and Sergio Gomez fired the follow-up wide to end a disappointing first 45 minutes for the Premier League champions.
But City started the second period by getting themselves on level terms as Julian Alvarez pounced on a misplaced pass from the Sevilla defence and teed up the onrushing Lewis, who smashed the ball past Bounou at his near post.
Minutes later, Dias’ header was kept out by the Sevilla keeper as City pushed to find a winner. But it took until the 72nd minute for the Blues to find a second. Kevin De Bruyne, moments after his introduction, found Alvarez with an exquisite through ball and the youngster then rounded Bounou and prodded the ball into the back of the net.
Mir volley wide in Sevilla’s best chance of the half, but on 83 minutes Guardiola’s men got a third. Alvarez again was at the heart of it, hounding Jose Angel Carmona into a mistake before emerging with the ball. The Argentine then slipped into the path of Mahrez, who effortlessly curled his shot into the back of the net.
Dias and Foden had late chances for City which were saved, while Thomas Delaney fired a shot over at the other end in injury-time. Here’s how we rated the players…
The Blues dominated the first half but found it difficult to get past Sevilla’s low block. Cole Palmer did go close after just two minutes, but blazed his shot over inside the box.
13. Bernardo Silva- 7 (on 57)
Added real energy to the middle and helped City exert their authority over proceedings.
14. Josh Wilson-Esbrand- 6 (on 70)
Didn’t see much of the ball in his cameo appearance but also didn’t put a foot wrong.
15. Kevin De Bruyne- 7 (on 70)
Produced the best moment of quality on the night with his pass for Alvarez, one of several great balls he played during his 20 minutes on the pitch.
16. Joao Cancelo (on 85)