Man City hit four to thump Plzen

 

Manchester City kept their slim hopes of topping Group D alive with a 4-2 home success over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

Substitute Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko clinched victory with two goals in the last 12 minutes after the Czech outfit had threatened to spring a surprise.
Sergio Aguero, from the penalty spot, and Samir Nasri twice gave Manuel Pellegrini's team the lead, only for the visitors to deservedly level through Tomas Horava and Stansilav Tecl.
Plzen gave as good as they got for long spells and forced the returning Joe Hart into a number of fine saves in an even contest.
But City's attacking quality eventually paid dividends as they made it three straight Champions League wins for the first time in their history.
The result means City still have hope of overhauling Bayern Munich at the top of the table, although they would have to beat the reigning champions by a greater margin than the 3-1 triumph Pep Guardiola's team enjoyed at the Etihad.
City's evening was soured slightly by the news that Aguero was forced off at the interval with an injury.

KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH - HART STARTS: The England stopper returns to the starting xi for the first time since he was dropped for the clash with Norwich City on November 2. Aleksandar Kolarov skippers a side boasting seven changes from the one that hammered Tottenham 6-0 in the league.
14' - OFF THE BAR: Nasri exchanges a one-two with Fernandinho and lashes a 30-yarder against the crossbar with the keeper well beaten. Unlucky.
33' - GOAL (Man City 1-0 Plzen): Aguero makes no mistake from the spot, tucking home his sixth goal of the CL and his 16th of the season. The keeper went the wrong way. Perhaps a harsh award for handball but Aguero won't care.
43' - GOAL (Man City 1-1 Plzen): Tomas Horava denies Hart a clean sheet on his return to the line up with a thumping 20-yard drive that sears into the corner. Great goal and much deserved.
46' - AGUERO INJURED: City's star man is replaced by Jesus Navas at the break. That's enough to concern the home faithful.
65' - GOAL (Man City 2-1 Plzen): Nasri tucks home a well-executed volley from Navas' intelligent cross after a good first touch from Toure on the right.
69' - GOAL (Man City 2-2 Plzen): Tecl coolly fires beyond Hart after a neat flick on gave him space inside the area after a flowing move down the left.
78' - GOAL (Man City 3-2 Plzen): Navas teases a sublime ball across the six-yard box for Negredo who makes no mistake from three yards out.
89' - GOAL (Man City 4-2 Plzen): Dzeko nods home the fourth to clinch the victory from Milner's pinpoint cross.

Plzen coach pleased with performance

Viktoria Plzen coach Pavel Vrba was pleased with his side's performance despite being beaten 4-2 by Manchester City at the Etihad.

KEY STATS
Sergio Aguero has now netted twelve goals in his last nine games in all competitions for Manchester City (via Opta Joe).
Joe Hart has kept just one clean sheet in his last 10 Champions League matches for Manchester City.
Aguero becomes the second player to score at least six (first) group stage goals for an English team in a Champions League season. Ruud Van Nistelrooy notched eight for Man United back in 2004-05 (via Infostrada Sports).
Manchester City have now secured their best Champions League outing with 12 points from five matches.
Alvaro Negredo has scored five times in his five Champions League appearances for Manchester City.

TALKING POINT
Can City pull off the shock of the competition? Can City beat the reigning champions Bayern Munich by bettering the 3-1 reversal they suffered against the Bavarians at home, on matchday six? It's a tall order and perhaps highly unlikely given the way they defended against Plzen. There's no doubt City will score goals - but can they keep them out?
MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY AND STATS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Samir Nasri (Man City) - Capped his 100th appearance for Manchester City with a well-executed goal. Dangerous throughout and unlucky not to score in the first half with a shot that cracked the crossbar.
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Hart 6, Richards 6, Lescott 6, Demichelis 6, Kolarov 6, Milner 7, Nasri 7, Javi García 6, Fernandinho 6, Dzeko 6, Aguero 7. Subs: Navas 7, Toure 6, Negredo 6.
Plzen: Kozacik 6, Rajtoral 7, Prochazka 7, Cisovsky 7, Hubnik 7, Horava 7, Horvath 7, Petrzela 6, Kolar 6, Duris 6, Tecl 6. Subs: Kovarik 6, Bakos 5, Wagner 5.