Manchester City 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling on target as Sergio Aguero misses penalty in routine win

  • Manchester City were made to work to seal a second Champions League group win over Shakhtar Donetsk
  • Kevin de Bruyne curled in a brilliant opener three minutes into the second half after mistake from Marlos 
  • Sergio Aguero had the chance to equal Eric Brook's club goalscoring record but he saw his penalty saved 
  • Substitutes Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling came on to combine for City's second in stoppage time 

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If Manchester City are ever to really crack the Champions League, there will be more nights like this. Pep Guardiola's team were not at their engaging best but they still won the game.

If that sounds rather underwhelming then so be it. Down the years, that is how European Cups have been won. When you can't find top gear, make sure that you don't fall off the bike.


This was an interesting and watchable game, even if City did not reach recent stellar standards. Shakhtar Donetsk were game opposition and played some neat and incisive football in the first half. 

Manchester City made it two wins from two in the Champions League this season over Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk

Manchester City made it two wins from two in the Champions League this season over Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk

Kevin De Bruyne fired in from the edge of the box after 48 minutes following a mistake from Shakhtar Donetsk's Marlos

Kevin De Bruyne fired in from the edge of the box after 48 minutes following a mistake from Shakhtar Donetsk's Marlos

The Manchester City players celebrate De Bruyne's opener after having to be patient during a goalless first-half at the Etihad

The Manchester City players celebrate De Bruyne's opener after having to be patient during a goalless first-half at the Etihad

Sergio Aguero had his penalty saved by Andriy Pyatov after 72 minutes following a contentious foul on Leroy Sane

Sergio Aguero had his penalty saved by Andriy Pyatov after 72 minutes following a contentious foul on Leroy Sane

The prolific striker looks to the heavens after seeing his spot-kick saved leaving him locked on 176 goals for the club

The prolific striker looks to the heavens after seeing his spot-kick saved leaving him locked on 176 goals for the club

Raheem Sterling stroked in City's second of the night in second-half stoppage time to give the hosts a comfortable finish

Raheem Sterling stroked in City's second of the night in second-half stoppage time to give the hosts a comfortable finish

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 6.5; Walker 6, Stones 6.5, Otamendi 6, Delph 6.5; De Bruyne 7.5, Fernandinho 7, D Silva 6.5 (Gundogan 81); Gabriel Jesus 5 (Sterling 54, 7), Aguero 5.5 (B Silva 85), Sane 6.5. Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Mangala, Toure.

GOALS: De Bruyne 48, Sterling 90 

MANAGER: Pep Guardiola 6.5

SHAKHTAR DONETSK (4-2-3-1): Pyatov 7; Butko 6, Ordets 5, Rakitskiy 6.5, Ismaily 6; Fred 6.5 (Kovalenko 90+1), Stepanenko 6; Marlos 5.5 (Dentinho 78, 6), Taison 6.5, Bernard 7 (Petriak 89); Ferreyra 6. Subs: Shevchenko, Khocholava, Patrick, Azevedo.

BOOKED: Ordets

MANAGER: Paulo Fonseca 6

REFEREE: Manuel De Sousa (Portugal) 6

STAR MAN: Kevin De Bruyne 

Player ratings by Chris Wheeler 

Kevin de Bruyne curled Manchester City in front after 48 minutes - CLICK HERE for more from our brilliant Match Zone

Kevin de Bruyne curled Manchester City in front after 48 minutes - CLICK HERE for more from our brilliant Match Zone

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Having won their opening group game against Napoli, they came to the Etihad Stadium to impose themselves and could have scored on at least two occasions when the game was goalless.

Had they done so, it would have been interesting to watch City react. After all, it has been a month since they conceded a goal in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, once City found something closer to their prime form in the second period, they were too good and as a result sit top of their group with two wins recorded and no goals conceded.

Here they eventually won the game courtesy of a lovely curling shot from Kevin De Bruyne in the 49th minute and a late strike from substitute Raheem Sterling. In the second half, Shakhtar were largely invisible as an attacking threat and this ended up as a game that City thoroughly deserved to win.

There was even enough breathing space for Sergio Aguero to miss a penalty. His shot was saved in the 71st minute with the score at 1-0 and he will have to wait a while before he equals Eric Brook's record of 177 City goals.

But that day will come and that was not the story of this night. This was an evening that saw City playing efficiently rather than brilliantly and that, in some ways, will have encouraged their supporters. Efficiency has not always been a part of the City DNA down the years, after all.

Early on Guardiola's team struggled just a little bit. In his programme notes Guardiola had written that he understood why City supporters were starting to dream of great things on the back of recent performances.

Sergio Aguero fires at goal as the in-form striker looks to break the deadlock having been released by Kevin De Bruyne

Sergio Aguero fires at goal as the in-form striker looks to break the deadlock having been released by Kevin De Bruyne

Gabriel Jesus returned to the starting line-up against Shakhtar Donetsk having missed the 5-0 win over Crystal Palace 

Gabriel Jesus returned to the starting line-up against Shakhtar Donetsk having missed the 5-0 win over Crystal Palace 

De Bruyne looks to charge forward with the ball and the Belgian playmaker had a glorious chance to break the deadlock

De Bruyne looks to charge forward with the ball and the Belgian playmaker had a glorious chance to break the deadlock

De Bruyne looked to disguise his shot by opening his body but his effort veered a yard wide of the keeper's right-hand post

De Bruyne looked to disguise his shot by opening his body but his effort veered a yard wide of the keeper's right-hand post

The former Wolfsburg forward reacts dejected after missing a gilt-edged chance to slot home the first goal of the night

The former Wolfsburg forward reacts dejected after missing a gilt-edged chance to slot home the first goal of the night

Here, though, the Spaniard's side were not at their best in the opening half. They created some opportunities as an Aguero volley was saved by the goalkeeper and De Bruyne and Leroy Sane both drove shots wide – one near post and one far past - when they only had Andriy Pyatov to beat.

What City couldn't do, though, was monopolise possession in their usual fashion and this invited the Ukraine champions to show a little of their attacking ability.

Twice in the opening half, Shakhtar should have scored. Early on their Brazilian midfielder Fred should have asked a question of City goalkeeper Ederson only to delay his shot long enough for City's Fernandinho to recover ground and make a good tackle.

Then, just before the interval, central defender Ivan Ordets was left totally unmarked six yards from goal only to take his eye off the incoming cross and head hopelessly wide when it seemed he must score.

At that point this was still a very even contest but teams that face City are beginning to understand an unmistakeable truth, namely that if you don't take your chances you are likely to go home with very little.

That is what happened here. Despite City's relatively methodical first-half play, De Bruyne and the German Sane had both been dangerous. Aguero and fellow striker Gabriel Jesus had been a little peripheral but the two supporting players had carried menace.

Marlos worked some space on the edge of the box, before testing Ederson with a curler the Brazilian did well to push clear

Marlos worked some space on the edge of the box, before testing Ederson with a curler the Brazilian did well to push clear

Leroy Sane was guilty of missing a brilliant opportunity to give City a half-time lead but he dragged his shot wide

Leroy Sane was guilty of missing a brilliant opportunity to give City a half-time lead but he dragged his shot wide

Sane sprinted through before firing his shot just wide of the post as City ended the first half the stronger of the two sides

Sane sprinted through before firing his shot just wide of the post as City ended the first half the stronger of the two sides

The Germany international shows his frustration at having seen his effort on the stroke of half-time flash inches wide

The Germany international shows his frustration at having seen his effort on the stroke of half-time flash inches wide

The group game was played at a pedestrian pace at times but De Bruyne provided a rare moment of sublime quality

The group game was played at a pedestrian pace at times but De Bruyne provided a rare moment of sublime quality

As such it was no surprise that De Bruyne made the decisive contribution. A pass infield from Shakhtar's Marlos went straight to the Belgian and when he exchanged passes with his captain David Silva and moved infield, space opened up.

There was still much to do but De Bruyne is a rare talent and he has impressed this season so far. 

The shot he unleashed from 25 yards flew past Pyatov without the goalkeeper moving, which seemed strange. But a look at the replays suggested that it was the power of the strike, as much as the right to left bend, that did for him.

So with City in the lead the challenge was set for Shakhtar and in truth it proved too much for them. It transpired that they had played their best football in the first period.

Aguero's big moment came and went after Ordets bundled over Sane. The penalty was well struck to the keeper's right, but Pyatov saved well low down with both hands. The keeper had a decent game.

Briefly, Guardiola looked anxious, but then it rarely takes much. At one stage he threw himself to the ground in frustration. Some chances then came and went as Sterling missed from six yards and Sane was denied by the keeper's midriff.

But when Bernardo Silva broke in the 90th minute and crossed well, Sterling rammed in the second goal off the underside of the bar from eight yards.

In the end, the scoreline was about right and although Shakhtar will be doughty opposition for City in the Ukraine later this season, it seems unfeasible that the English team will not have already qualified by then.

Raheem Sterling came on for Gabriel Jesus after 54 minutes and he had a good chance to double the lead from close range

Raheem Sterling came on for Gabriel Jesus after 54 minutes and he had a good chance to double the lead from close range

The former Liverpool winger did find the target, however, as he was picked out by Bernardo Silva for a simple tap-in

The former Liverpool winger did find the target, however, as he was picked out by Bernardo Silva for a simple tap-in

City manager Pep Guardiola looks to inject some urgency into his side's performance during a drab opening 45 minutes 

City manager Pep Guardiola looks to inject some urgency into his side's performance during a drab opening 45 minutes 

Leroy Sane created a couple of chances in the first half but he was unable to hit the target despite being in good positions

Leroy Sane created a couple of chances in the first half but he was unable to hit the target despite being in good positions

City right back Kyle Walker clashes with Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian defender Ismaily during a cagey opening 45 minutes

City right back Kyle Walker clashes with Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian defender Ismaily during a cagey opening 45 minutes

Guardiola¿s  City welcome the Ukrainian champions to the Etihad Stadium for their second Champions League Group F fixture

Guardiola's City welcome the Ukrainian champions to the Etihad Stadium for their second Champions League Group F fixture