Last Time Out - Five Star City Blast Burnley

November 2020 – Etihad Stadium

Manchester City faced Burnley in what could have been called a bottom of the table clash. Burnley were sitting in 17^th place with 5 points, while City were not faring much better with 12 points and in 14^th place.

City had won their last three matches at home to Burnley by 5-0 scorelines, and the visiting supporters were likely to be fearful of another drubbing.

And they were right to be afraid as City got on the scoresheet within the first six minutes. Ferran Torres fed Kevin de Bruyne, and the Belgian’s first time pass found an unmarked Riyad Mahrez in acres of space. The Algerian took a touch before curling the ball low beyond the keeper.

Things got worse for Burnley when, on 21 minutes, Kyle Walker’s throw from way behind the touchline found Mahrez inside the box. The Burnley defender failed to cut out the ball, and Mahrez skipped inside three defenders, before firing in off the post.

On 41 minutes, Benjamin Mendy scored his first City goal. The blues had acres of space in midfield, and de Bruyne had time to look up and spot the run of Mendy on the left. His ball over the top was inch-perfect and Mendy fired home first time to make it 3-0.

Two goals in three second half minutes followed for City. Fernandinho cut out a clearance inside the Burnley half, before Walker and Mahrez linked up to feed Torres, who made it 4-0.

Mahrez then claimed the match ball three minutes later. Substitute Phil Foden’s brilliant cross was met by the head of the Algerian at the far post, and Mahrez thumped the ball home to complete the rout.

It could have been much worse for the visitors. Torres and Gabriel Jesus both had goals disallowed for offside and de Bruyne hit the post late on as City put in another dominant display against their Lancashire rivals.

Final Score: Manchester City 5-0 Burnley