Man City: The perfect start.

(Baonghean.vn) - Welcoming the underdog Stoke City in the early match of the 35th round of the Premier League, Man City completely dominated the game, defeating their opponent 4-0. This is the perfect warm-up for the Citizens before entering the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid at Etihad (April 26).

To secure a place in the top four, manager Manuel Pellegrini fielded a nearly full-strength team from the start, without resting key players in preparation for the upcoming match against Real Madrid. Only Kevin De Bruyne was rested on the bench, while other key players such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Fernando, Otamendi, and Joe Hart were all present on the field.

Man City constantly threatened Stoke's defense.

Meanwhile, Stoke's already weak defense became even more vulnerable without Ibrahim Afellay due to injury. Manager Mark Hughes' pre-match declaration of "ready to fight" angered Manchester City, resulting in his team suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat. Stoke had only won one match (in August 2015) in their last seven visits to the Etihad. Before that, they suffered two embarrassing defeats against Liverpool (1-4) and Tottenham (0-4).

Coach Manuel Pellegrini affirmed: "The victory against Stoke City was the perfect springboard for the Real Madrid battle." His team fought with the highest spirit, with agile footwork and a cool head.

Immediately after the opening whistle, the Manchester City warriors launched an attack, creating numerous opportunities. Striker Sergio Aguero constantly troubled Stoke's defense, making it difficult for them to cope. Finally, what was bound to happen did happen: in the 34th minute, from a corner kick on the right wing, Fernando made a clever run and headed the ball into the net from close range, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. The victory was sealed for Manuel Pellegrini's side in the first half. In the 42nd minute, Iheanacho was fouled inside Stoke's penalty area, and the referee didn't hesitate to point to the penalty spot. "Killer" Sergio Aguero successfully converted the penalty to double the lead for his team.

Aguero's penalty goal

In the second half, Stoke had a few dangerous counter-attacks but failed to score. Conversely, they conceded two more goals to the home team, with Iheanacho scoring a brace in the 64th and 74th minutes. The home team sealed the victory with beautiful attacking combinations that delighted the fans. Fernando, Aguero, Iheanacho… gave Stoke's defense a day to forget, relentlessly thrashing them 4-0. In particular, with a brace and an assist, Iheanacho had a successful day, deserving the Man of the Match award.

With this victory, Man City dispelled the gloomy atmosphere at Etihad and silenced doubts following their lackluster draw at Newcastle a few days ago. As manager Pellegrini put it, Man City are still on the right track this season. They won the League Cup, reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time, and are maintaining their position in the top four of the Premier League.

This victory not only widened the gap with their persistent pursuers, Manchester United, but also served as a strong declaration of war to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid, ahead of the fierce clash at the Etihad Stadium next week. A perfect start to the season.

KIM THUY