Manchester City knew they were in for a tough task in Kiev, but made surprisingly light work of their opponents.
Manuel Pellegrini made 10 changes from the youthful team which lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup, with only Fernando keeping his place.
And it worked, with a 3-1 win giving the visitors a great chance of their first ever Champions League quarter-final.
But when it comes to Champions League football it has often been about just one man.
.@aguerosergiokun is on 🔥…
1️⃣5️⃣ #UCL starts
1️⃣6️⃣ #UCL goals pic.twitter.com/epiKX09NUO— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2016
The first thing many noticed was a very curious formation change from Pellegrini
So, Fernandinho on the right wing. Masterstroke or madness?
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) February 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/702583231271428096
It didn’t work immediately and City had some nervy moments early on, with Joe Hart lucky to divert an Andriy Yarmolenko effort the right side of the woodwork
We all love English teams doing well. Hmmm. But we all wanted Joe Hart to drop it in the goal just then.
— Michael Burgess (@MikeJBurgess) February 24, 2016
But when the visitors got their chance in front of goal, it fell to the right man, with Aguero rifling home a crucial away goal
Kuuuuuuuuuun u believe it whooo #0-1 #mcfc
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) February 24, 2016
Aguero is one player who hasn't deserved the odd season City have had. He is absolutely class.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 24, 2016
City were almost indistinguishable from the team which lost the big Premier League matches against Leicester and Spurs, and boy did their fans notice
#mcfc haven't pressed this well high up the pitch since Pep comes in next season.
— David Mooney (@DavidMooney) February 24, 2016
The opening goal allowed City to properly find their feet, and they were comfortable even before David Silva made it two just before half-time
https://twitter.com/jayjaffa/status/702590428898533378
People had questions
Great unsolved mysteries of the universe: how Dynamo Kiev finished ahead of Porto in Champions League Group G.
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) February 24, 2016
While Leicester fans were filled with optimism
https://twitter.com/mattjedruch/status/702590561363042305
As were Arsenal supporters
https://twitter.com/ryan_defreitas/status/702591142093836289
Meanwhile, in Eindhoven, there was another game going on between PSV and Atletico Madrid. The first half was…one for the purists
Danny Mills wondering whether Simeone sleeps with black bad sheets makes it comfortably into the top three moments of PSV-Atleti so far
— Will (@WillBeckman_) February 24, 2016
City were keen to make sure that missed chance didn’t come back to bite them, but they allowed their opponents a way back into the tie after the break through Vitaly Buyalsky’s deflected effort
https://twitter.com/ffsRooney/status/702600425103626240
But just as the hosts thought they might have a chance of turning things around at the Etihad next month, Yaya Toure struck in the dying embers of the game.
Yaya Touré’s ability to just decide he wants to be left footed occasionally is proper great
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) February 24, 2016
And what a time it was for Toure to show his class
Yaya Touré: Has scored his first goal in the Champions League this season from 21 shots in 7 apps #mcfc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 24, 2016
It was a huge goal, and City fans can be forgiven for already thinking about the next round. But remember, it’s uncharted territory
https://twitter.com/City_Watch/status/702608825967374336
