FIVE STAR MAN CITY IN WALES

Manchester City thump Cardiff 5-0 in Wales as Riyad Mahrez scores his first two goals for the club...

A performance we have come to expect from Guardiola’s Manchester City was enough to cut through Neil Warnock's Cardiff City.

Two opening goals within 3 minutes of each other from Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva undone Cardiff’s hard work early on.

From that point on Manchester City controlled the pace of the game, shutting Cardiff City out.

A first and second goal for his new club from Riyad Mahrez sealed the deal as Pep Guardiola kept up his impressive run against newly promoted sides (not losing against one since 2011).

The opening of the game was fairly quiet with Manchester City having the control of the ball whilst Cardiff looked to hit them on the counter attack.

Aymeric Laporte put his own keeper in trouble in the 10th minute when he played an unexpected back pass forcing Ederson to quickly clear the ball.

20 minutes played and the tempo to the game is slowing as City look to play their way through Cardiff’s box.

Leroy Sane broke down the left-hand side in the 24th minute, putting a ball across the goal and almost ending up in an own goal for Cardiff.

Manchester City missed the biggest chance of the game so far in the 28th minute when Ilkay Gundogan found himself in the box but smashed the ball over.

City were first to find the back of the net as Sergio Aguero met Bernardo Silva’s ball into the box to put City ahead. 1-0 to City, 31 minutes played.

Bernardo Silva made it 2-0 right after in the 34th minute when he flicked a header on from Leroy Sane’s cross.

Manchester City came close again in the 40th minute as Cardiff keeper Etheridge made a good save to deny Sergio Aguero.

The ball fell to Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the box in the 43rd minute who managed to connect with the ball well sending it flying into the top corner putting City firmly in the driving seat.

A decent first 20 minutes for Cardiff was undone in the last 25 minutes of the first half as City began to find their rhythm.

A lengthy delay began the second half as Lee Peltier was forced off with an injury and replaced by Jazz Richards.

Danny Ward found himself in the Manchester City box was unable to make real contact with the ball as it was saved by Ederson. 54 Minutes played.

Manchester City continue to control the pace of the game and carry on creating chances for themselves, forcing Etheridge into several more good saves.

Sergio Aguero made way for Riyad Mahrez in the 60th minute, ending Aguero’s 300th appearance for the club.

The previously mention Mahrez was able to score his first goal for the club, meeting Gundogan’s cross to tap the ball in from close range. 4-0, 67 minutes played.

City kept up their high momentum, not happy with 4 goals as they looked to create more.

Raheem Sterling had a free kick saved and Riyad Mahrez looked to threaten at Etheridge’s front post but Cardiff were able to make it to the 88th minute without conceding.

This was ended when Riyad Mahrez placed a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal from inside the box making it 5-0 in the 88th minute.

A routine away visit for the defending champions showed they had not lost a step after losing in mid week.

For Cardiff City on the other hand, they are yet to win a game but will not feel like this game will have too much impact on their season as a whole.