Marseille 0 Manchester City 3 – Torres, Gundogan, Sterling on scoresheet as City thrash Marseille; De Bruyne shines Updated for April 2024

Updated: 13 September

UEFA Champions' League Group C – Stade Velodrome, Marseille – Tuesday, 28 October 2020 – Matchday 2 of 6 report

Marseille 0 Manchester City 3

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City put in a dominant display to beat Olympique Marseille away at Stade Velodrome to move to the top of Group C with six points.

City have been without their key strikers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus forcing Guardiola to experiment with Ferran Torres in a central attacking role with Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling on the wings and Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings behind the front three.

This strategy seems to have paid off as the trio did enough to trouble the Marseille defense. The visitors created chances from the very  offset with Torres opening the scoring with a tap-in from a De Bruyne square pass after the Belgian had sneaked in behind the Marseille defense.

It was Torres' second goal in from as many Champions' League appearances for City and De Bruyne's 87th assist across all competitions for the club.

The visitors almost found a second before the interval when Oleksandr Zinchenko's shot from the edge of the area clipped the outside of the post.

City custodian Ederson was hardly troubled as Nemanja Radonjic's effort from 30 yards was easily dealt with and Florian Thauvin's attempt hit the outside of a post after the break.

This was all the hosts had to show as Guardiola's men intensified their attacks on the Marseille goal.

The 76th minute saw Foden steaming down the left before delivering a cross to Sterling at the back the post with the English forward's header falling perfectly for Ilkay Gundogan to stab in through Steve Mandanda's legs for City's second of the night.

City made it three just 5 minutes later as the mercurial De Bruyne got in behind the rival defense to effect one more inch-perfect assist for Sterling to tap-in from close range.

For Marseille, winger Dimitri Payet was surprisingly benched with Nemanja Radonjic taking over the Frenchman's role on the left flank.

The victory at Marseille catapults City to the top of Group C with 6 points from two games with an entry into the knock-out stage looking a distinct possibility.

Marseille staring XI:

Mandanda (goal), Sakai, Alvaro, Kamara, Amavi, Balerdi, Radonjic, Caleta-Car, Cuisance, Rongier, Thauvin

Subs: Sanson, Benedetto, Payet, Gueye

Man City starting XI:

Ederson (goal), Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne , Foden, Torres, Sterling

Subs: Cancelo, Mahrez, Stones), Bernardo, Palmer

Man of the match:

Kevin De Bruyne

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