Blues powering towards qualification
Maximum points from three games and three points clear of second-placed Shakhtar, City are enjoying this year’s Champions League group stage.
Only once before have the Blues won the qualifying group, when they went all the way to the semi-final after seeing off Dynamo Kyiv and PSG before narrowly losing to Real Madrid.
But there are lessons still to be learned from previous campaigns – in 2011/12, City finished with 10 points and didn’t qualify – though Napoli and Bayern Munich did.
And in 2014/15, City racked up 15 points in the group stage only to finish second to Bayern Munich.
Realistically, one more win should be enough to secure a place in the Round of 16 – depending on other results – though there is a chance City could travel to Shakhtar on matchday six still needing a result to progress.
The Ukrainians host pointless Feyenoord next while the Blues face a tricky test in Naples – so there’s still plenty to do in what is proving to be a very tough group.
Ederson the man
It’s fair to say Ederson is quickly becoming something of a crowd favourite.
The Blues’ support has quickly taken to the Brazilian and are appreciative of his sweeping skills and technique, not to mention his safe handling and distribution.
The roar that greeted his crucial first-half penalty save spoke volumes of the respect he’s earned and it seems clear that City have got a real gem of a goalkeeper in their hands.
Perfect 10?
It’s hard to imagine a more impressive run of form by City, who recorded a tenth successive victory against Napoli.
During that time, the Blues have scored 36 goals and conceded just five – but last season started with 10 successive victories, 30 goals scored and five conceded.
Pep Guardiola will be well aware that a slump of six games without a win followed that blistering start and will be keen to ensure his side continue to play with the same intensity and focus as they have in the past 10 games and not run into choppy waters again.
Burnley, unbeaten on the road this campaign, will look to throw a spanner in the works this weekend so expect a closer game than some of the recent Premier League encounters.
Shared vision
No doubt one of Pep’s visions is to have goals coming from everywhere on the pitch and the form of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling will no doubt delight the Catalan.
Both players have already bagged eight goals each this season and with Sergio Aguero on seven and Leroy Sane on six, there is the prospect of four, five or maybe even six City players hitting double figures in the weeks to come – if that happens, the Blues will be well and truly on track.
