Gabriel Jesus netted a hat-trick as Manchester City powered to a 6-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk but they will have to wait to book their place in the last 16 after Hoffenheim netted a late equaliser at Lyon in Group F s other fixture.
The hosts were in total control as they eased to a comfortable win at the Etihad Stadium, giving City brief respite from the series of allegations about their financial conduct that have been published by German magazine Der Spiegel this week, upon which the club have declined to comment.
With the focus firmly back on on-field matters, City put on an efficient display that opened with a straightforward finish for David Silva, before Raheem Sterling was wrongly awarded a spot-kick after kicking the turf.
Jesus netted from the spot and added a second penalty late on, after Sterling had scored City s third with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box, and Mahrez made it five before Jesus completed his treble.
Hoffenheim’s 2-2 draw at Lyon delayed City s progress, but they now sit three points clear of the Ligue 1 club at the top of the group.
2 Gabriel Jesus is the first player to score two penalties in a Champions League game for an English club since Wayne Rooney did so for Manchester United against Otelul Galati in October 2011. Rarity.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Good work by Mahrez down the right created the space for a squared pass across the six-yard box after 13 minutes, leaving the poorly marked Silva with a simple tap-in for the opener.
City doubled their advantage in rather embarrassing circumstances after 24 minutes.
Sterling kicked the turf as he shaped to shoot, going down in the box, but referee Viktor Kassai incorrectly ruled that the England winger had been felled by Mykola Matvyenko, with Guardiola appearing to motion that he did not agree with the decision.
Jesus ruthlessly dispatched the penalty but will perhaps blame his failure to convert a glorious one-on-one opportunity soon after on a sudden pang of sympathy for the visitors.
Having scuffed his shot to great effect during the first half, Sterling extended City’s lead with a sweetly struck curling effort three minutes into the second.
Jesus added another with a second penalty of the match in the 72nd minute, after Silva was brought down by a clumsy Taras Stepanenko challenge, and Mahrez drove home a fifth after taking down an Ilkay Gundogan cross five minutes from time.
Brazil international Jesus rounded off the night with a delightful chip to make it six.
What does it mean? United beware
City welcome local rivals Manchester United to the Etihad in the Premier League on Sunday and will do so having netted a frightening 21 goals for the concession of just one in their last five home matches in all competitions.
Sterling starring for City
Sterling drew plenty of plaudits for his performance in City s 6-1 demolition of Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday and was impressive once more on Wednesday against lacklustre opponents, his goal featuring a run from the halfway line before pulling the trigger from 18 yards.
Raheem Sterling in 2018/19 for Manchester City:
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Going gets turf for Kassai
Shakhtar were low on quality but it is referee Kassai who will be remembered for his poor performance in this match. The Hungarian will be left to rue the fact his moment in the spotlight came a season before VAR – which surely would have spared his blushes – is introduced to the Champions League.
What’s next?
City face the small matter of a Manchester derby, while Ukrainian Premier League table toppers Shakhtar visit fourth-placed Vorskla on the same day.
