Manchester City 4 - 2 Viktoria Plzeň: Thoughts and Ratings

By Jack Mumford

A 4-2 win in the Champions League should never be a disappointment but that was the general feeling at the Etihad Stadium last night.

Obviously with City already being through and Bayern’s earlier victory in Moscow, the Blues would have to get an unlikely win 3-0 in the Allianz Arena - resulting in this game being a dead rubber. 

Manuel Pellegrini made seven changes to the side that dismantled Tottenham and I went to the Etihad expecting fringe players like Edin Džeko and Joleon Lescott attempt to stake their claim for a future starting berth. 

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

However, against much weaker opposition many of these players looked like they had found their level or were suffering from a lack of motivation. In truth, the players that impressed most were those who are already regulars. Samir Nasri, Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho seemed to drag the rest of the team kicking and screaming through the match.

Match Reflection: Manchester City 4 - 2 Viktoria Plzeň

Pellegrini's progressors show Hart against a vivacious Viktoria Plzeň 

By Adam Bailey

Manchester City's impeccable home record almost suffered a frightening blow on Wednesday night as a vibrant Viktoria Plzeň side launched a full scale assault inside the Etihad Stadium.

A relaxed home crowd, buoyed by their side's progression into the last 16 of the Champions League, were treated to yet another goalscoring flurry on home territory. Seven changes were made to the outfit that savaged Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon and a shaky defence had their attackers to thank in a below par performance.

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Match Preview: Manchester City vs Viktoria Plzeň

City face Czech champions in final home European group tie

By Aaron Leggott

As the football season hits December, many fans across Europe start to prepare for an exhilarating month of football as the Champions League group stage reaches its climax. 

However, those connected with Manchester City will, in some ways, be glad to be able to focus on other competitions after qualification to the knockout stages was secured against CSKA Moscow earlier this month.

Of course, Manuel Pellegrini would prefer to see his side top Group D and receive a potentially easier route into the quarter finals, but the Chilean will acknowledge that any possibility of that happening will only occur if Pep Guardiola's side have a major slip up - which doesn't look likely on current form.

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City's opponents for their penultimate fixture appear in the form of Czech champions Viktoria Plzeň - the team yet to register a point in the Champions League this season.

Manchester City 5 - 2 CSKA Moscow: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

What a great performance to cap off and ensure Champions League qualification at the third time of asking. 

Despite the group we were given, it is a hugely impressive feat to qualify with two games spare. Not only does it give us the opportunity to rest players in the remaining two fixtures against Viktoria Plzeň and Bayern Munich, but it also gives the players a new breed of confidence as they enter new territory. 

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Of course, our form in the Premier League will also benefit if we are to rest key players, and will give us an advantage on rivals who are still yet to qualify from their respective groups.

Match Reflection: CSKA Moscow 1 - 2 Manchester City

Crucial victory in Moscow as Agüero stars yet again for gutsy City

By Jack Mumford

City battled to a 2-1 victory over a struggling CSKA Moscow side thanks to another two goals from Sergio Agüero on Wednesday evening. CSKA weren’t City’s only obstacle to the three points as the Arena Khimki pitch certainly didn’t lend itself to the passing brand of football City currently play. 

However Agüero, who is going through a purple patch of eight goals in his last six games, replied to CSKA’s opener quickly to guide City to a victory that is the perfect response to their recent crushing defeat against Bayern Munich.

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Manuel Pellegrini chose to keep the same 4-4-2 formation that worked so well at West Ham on Saturday but rotated his fullbacks as Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov came in for Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta respectively. The only other change to the line-up was Samir Nasri dropping to the bench as Jesús Navas filled his right sided midfielder role.

Match Preview: CSKA Moscow vs Manchester City

City looking to bounce back after Bayern defeat

By Rebecca Halliwell

Manchester City have made the long trip to the Russian capital as they prepare to face CSKA Moscow in their third match of the 13/14 Champions League campaign.

At the weekend, the Blues secured a win against West Ham United, meaning their first league away win of this season. Manchester City played well with Sergio Agüero scoring two goals and David Silva netting the third. The Blues are now sitting fourth in the league and second in their Champions League group.

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Match Reflection: Viktoria Plzeň 0 - 3 Manchester City

Yaya Touré helps City record first win in Champions League since 2011 

By Aaron Leggott

Manuel Pellegrini's men strolled to a convincing 3-0 victory in the Czech Republic last night, with goals from Edin Džeko, Yaya Touré and Sergio Agüero securing the win.

It probably would have had Roberto Mancini scratching his head as he sat at home - with only two new summer additions starting in a team that failed so badly under him in Europe last season.

The Italian will argue that his successor has been given a much kinder draw, but City played brilliantly during the whole 90 minutes and produced a European performance that was simply lacking far too often under Mancini.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

In truth, the first half was very 50/50, but City were very patient and except for Vincent Kompany's mis-hit back pass to Joe Hart midway through the first half, the Blues were very comfortable, with the hosts rarely troubling Hart's goal.

Match Preview: Viktoria Plzeň vs Manchester City

Kompany expected to return for City's first Champions League game

By Aaron Leggott

City have travelled to Eastern Europe for their first Champions League game of the season with a big boost after it was announced that Vincent Kompany is set to return to the side to face Viktoria Plzeň, the current Czech champions.

Most are predicting a comfortable victory for Manuel Pellegrini's men, but with Plzeň still yet to lose after eight domestic games, City might be in for quite a shock in the Czech Republic.

The task will not be made any easier as defenders Gaël Clichy and Micah Richards are doubtful, whilst new signing Martin Demichelis misses out once again thanks to a knee injury.

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In the Spotlight: Viktoria Plzeň

No. 5: A lowdown on the Czech champions and their chances of European success this year

By Aaron Leggott

Ahead of our first Champions League game of the season, Aaron Leggott caught up with Czech football expert Chris Boothroyd (@theczechup) - editor of the very successful website "The Czech Up." 

Štruncovy Sady, the home of Viktoria Plzeň
Photo: http://bitoredfan.blogspot.co.uk/