How we lined up:
City starting XI: Hart, Maffeo, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernando, Toure, Delph, Nolito, Navas, Iheanacho Subs:Gunn, Adarabioyo, Angelino, Fernandinho, Aguero, Sterling, Silva
What happened...
The first half was not the most exciting ever seen at the Etihad with neither keeper troubled. City’s handsome first leg lead meant it would have needed the Blues to completely implode for the Romanians to have had the merest sniff of a chance and, of course, that was never really going to happen.
With eight changes made, City lacked cohesion at times with the passing not as crisp as it has been in the past few games and, understandably, no sense of urgency. In fact, it wasn’t until the 54th minute that the Blues finally forced Valentin Cojocaru to make his first save as Fabian Delph’s low drive was parried behind by the Steaua keeper.
Two minutes later, Delph gave City the lead as Kelechi Iheanacho found Jesus Navas and the Spaniard’s cross was met firmly by Delph to increase the aggregate lead.
There was little else of note thereafter with a few half-chances at either end but no realistic opportunity - the only sour note was an injury to Kelechi Iheanacho who was stretchered off 10 minutes from the end with a leg injury.
Key moment
Without doubt Delph’s goal livened up what had been a dull affair and also brought the crowd to life, too.
Photo of the match
Man of the match
Fabian Delph’s goal just edged the vote over Aleks Kolarov. He claimed that he’d got the winner against Sunderland when the ball allegedly brushed his back - but to no avail - but nobody will argue this was his goal!
What it means
In the grand scheme of things it only means City are confirmed as progressing to the Champions League group stages. The Blues will learn their fate tomorrow with the draw taking place from 5pm.
Stats and milestones
City couldn’t find the three goals needed to create a record aggregate victory for a European tie - though the 6-0 overall win is still one of the biggest in the Club’s history.
Pep Guardiola has now won his first four games in charge of the Blues
Borussia Monchengladbach, Rostov, FC Copenhagen and one of either Salzburg or Dinamo Zagreb join City in the group stage draw
Social post of the match
.@ChampionsLeague 2016/17 - we are in! 🙌💪 @mancity #cmoncity #ucl #cityvsteaua
— Ilkay Gündogan (@Guendogan8) August 24, 2016
