Manchester City vs. Stoke, Premier League: Final Score 7-2, Blues back on top with huge home win

Manchester City continue to be on fire in the Premier League, and the Blues reached eight unbeaten matches to start the season thanks to a breathtaking 7-2 win over Stoke City at the Etihad on Saturday. The Blues dominated the game from beginning to end, and they’re now firmly established at the top of the table. This team is amazing.

FIRST HALF

The first half was completely dominated by the Blues, who pressured Stoke from the first minute and had more than 80% possession for most of the period, and at times they played truly sublime football. The passing and movement was just too much for the Potters, and the goals came.

First, it was Gabriel Jesus who tapped home a cross from Kyle Walker to finish off an incredible counter attack. Two minutes later, a beautiful passing sequence put Leroy Sané through on goal, but the German was unselfish and gave an assist to Raheem Sterling for the second. Sterling was also involved in the third goal with an assist to David Silva, who gave City a three-goal lead inside 30 minutes.

The intensity of the team naturally dropped after the third goal, and although City created a few good chances they couldn’t find a fourth to end the game. Mame Biram Diouf scored for Stoke just before halftime, which added a little bit of excitement ahead of the second half.

SECOND HALF

Stoke made things even more interesting just three minutes into the second half when a cross from the right side hit Walker’s leg and went into the net for an own goal. City needed a quick goal to stop Stoke from believing they could get a result, and they got it when De Bruyne stole a ball in midfield and played a beautiful cross to Gabriel Jesus, who buried home his second and City’s fourth.

Just to make sure they’d get a win, City scored a few more goals. Fernandinho got the Blues’ fifth with a sensational strike from long range, and Leroy Sané joined the scoring party thanks to a pornographic assist from Kevin De Bruyne. With the win finally guaranteed, Pep Guardiola gave rest to a few players who will start against Napoli and the Blues just ran out the clock in the final minutes.

Apart from a few bad minutes at the end of the first and beginning of the second half, this was a sensational performance from City. This team is playing incredible football right now, and Pep seems to have figured out this Premier League thing.

Man City: Éderson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne (Gundogan), Fernandinho (Yaya Touré), Silva; Sterling, Jesus (Bernardo), Sané

Goals: Gabriel Jesus (17’, 55’), Sterling (19’), Silva (27’), Fernandinho (60’), Sané (62’), Bernardo Silva (79’)

Stoke: Butland; Edwards (Sobhi), Zouma, Wimmer (Martins Indi), Pieters; Diouf, Cameron, Fletcher, Choupo-Moting; Shaqiri, Jesé (Afellay)

Goals: Diouf (44’), Walker (47’ O.G.)