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Manchester City rebounded after losing in the Champions League by winning a 5-0 win in Cardiff.
Sergio Aguero – who played his 300th match in the city – Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan struck 12 minutes from the end. Pep Guardiola's men suffered a 2-1 defeat midweek against Lyon.
Substitute Riyad Mahrez added two more goals in the second half with his first goals since leaving Leicester to become City's record in the summer.
The defeat of Cardiff made them fall in the relegation zone and the Bluebirds are still looking for their first victory after their promotion in the Premier League.
(Image: PA)
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Both teams met during a controversial fourth round match of the FA Cup in January. Guardiola urged the players to receive additional protection from the referees after Joe Bennett's bad tackle caused ligament damage to his German winger Leroy Sane.
Eight months later, Bennett was relegated to the bench for a fight that rarely saw Cardiff approaching the city, but Joe Ralls was lucky enough to avoid a red card in the approach of the break.
City dominated both possession and territory in the first half hour without creating a lot of good marks in the pouring rain.
The precious touch of Bruno Ecuele Manga prevented Raheem Sterling from banging on an empty net and Gundogan sent his half-volley over the crossbar after Sean Morrison's bad head came back to him.
But City's patient approach paid off after 32 minutes when Gundogan and Silva teamed up for Aguero to mark his historic appearance with a clean final ahead of Neil Etheridge in Cardiff's goal.
The attack was dubbed within three minutes, with Sane having crossed the right-hand stretch and Silva's interesting header back at the far post.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
(Image: REUTERS)
Etheridge came to the rescue of Cardiff to deny Aguero at close range, but a minute before half-time, Gundogan played one-on-one with Sterling and sealed the ball in the top corner of the box.
Cardiff's misery should have worsened a few moments later, when Ralls grabbed Gundogan up with a challenge that evoked Bennett's tackle over Sane.
But referee Michael Oliver chose to show a yellow card rather than a red, and Cardiff was spared the penalty of having played the second half with 10 men.
Cardiff lost Lee Peltier just after half-time, the game held up for a while while the right-back suffered a shoulder injury.
Sane took out the outside of a post with a diving header before Mahrez scored within six minutes after replacing Aguero.
Sterling fed Gundogan to his left and Mahrez brought back his perfect cross center.
Sane and Sterling had new chances to extend the lead before Mahrez rushed to Manga's mistake two minutes from the end of the match and scored with a weak shuttlecock.
Thank you for joining our comment this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
Manchester City bounced back from defeat in the Champions League with an energetic victory over Cardiff City this afternoon. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring after a disappointing start to Pep Guardiola's men's match. However, after the breakthrough, everything was one way. Bernardo Silva added two seconds after Aguero's effort, while Ilkay Gundogan scored twice before half-time. Riyad Mahrez scored his first goal after coming in and scored five goals with one shot to end the win just before the end of the match.
90 + 3 minutesminute by minute
FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0-5 MANCHESTER CITY
90 + 2 minutesminute by minute
City will see his match come out with a blank sheet while Delph repels a late attempt by Reid on the right flank.
90 minutesminute by minute
There will be three minutes of additional time.
90 minutesSTATISTICS
Total possession ratio
Possession
89 minutesminute by minute
GOALLLLLLLLLL !!!! 5-0 CITY !! MAHREZ HAS HIS SECOND !!! Mahrez capitalizes on an Ecuale Manga error and plants a low blow in the lower corner. The Cardiff defender had first made it a point to stop Sterling's run into the box, but his occasional unloading to Arter was intercepted by Mahrez. He cut inside his left foot before burying his effort in front of Etheridge in the net.
87 minutesminute by minute
RECORD! Bernardo Silva starts the Foden race in the surface and the young takes a good first touch to stand out from Morrison. He can not really connect with his effort and Etheridge goes off.
85 minutesminute by minute
City will see this victory with relative ease. Since the 32nd minute, they have been exceptional.
83 minutesminute by minute
RECORD! Mahrez writhes and turns his man on the right flank. He forces a low blow in the lower corner, but Etheridge is on the alert to stop.
82 minutesminute by minute
City enjoyed 80% of possession in the competition, while the statistic is even higher at 82% for the second half.
80 minutesminute by minute
RECORD! Sterling feeds his efforts towards the target, but Etheridge looks at the ball to push it into a corner. A solid stop of the goalkeeper.
79 minutesminute by minute
Morrison slips late on Sterling and gives City a free-kick in a dangerous position. Sterling wants to take the set-set.
79 minutesminute by minute
City maintains its standards as we approach the final stages of the game. Their defeat was perfect in the second half.
THE IMPORTANT EVENT
Goal by Mahrez on photos
77 minutesminute by minute
Mahrez looks for Foden's run in the middle, but Morrison passes one leg to make the intervention.
THE IMPORTANT EVENT
Purpose of Gundogan in photos
75 minutesminute by minute
Substitution David Junior Hoilett Josh Murphy
75 minutesSTATISTICS
Total possession ratio
Possession
74 minutesminute by minute
Stones replaces Fernandinho for visitors.
73 minutesminute by minute
BLOCK! Foden raids on the left and chooses Bernardo Silva with a beautiful cross at the back post, displaying a beautiful vision. The Portuguese pulled the trigger, but Ralls managed to hit just in time to complete the goal block.
71 minutesminute by minute
The city caresses the ball around the field with relative ease. They dominated the second half and still seem to pursue their goals.
69 minutesminute by minute
Gundogan makes way for Foden.
67 minutesminute by minute
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL !!!!! MAHREZ HAS ITS FIRST OBJECTIVE CITY !!! 4-0 !!!! This is another brilliant team goal of the visitors. Sterling frees Gundogan on the left flank and the German shoots a low ball through the goal. This time, Etheridge stays at home and costs Cardiff while Mahrez attaches to the delivery at the back post to guide his shot into the net.
67 minutesminute by minute
Gundogan was extremely impressive this afternoon. He continues his good exit with a good run on the left and a brilliant cross to convert Mahrez.
THE IMPORTANT EVENT
Bernardo Silva goal in photos
65 minutesminute by minute
The city will be determined to see it with a clean sheet. Guardiola will not have been satisfied with their defense during the week. Cardiff will continue to come, it will be a test of their character.
63 minutesminute by minute
Zohore replaces Ward for the local camp.
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