A mesmeric opening 25 minutes saw the Blues home and hosed with more than two thirds of the game still to play as Pep Guardiola’s side gave a display that will have been duly noted by the rest of Europe this evening.
City capped off a fine display with another goal after the break to record a 4-0 victory -and a first win on Dutch soil.
What happened?
City couldn’t have started much better.
Straight for the jugular, the Blues were merciless as they tried to quickly quell the partisan home support in the atmospheric De Kuip and with less than two minutes played, the visitors were ahead.
Poor marking from a corner meant De Bruyne could play in David Silva on the left and the skipper had all the time in the world to pick out the head of John Stones who thumped his header with enough power that Tonny juggling act on the line couldn’t stop the ball crossing the line.
Feyenoord looked suitably shaken and within five minutes Gabriel Jesus was unlucky to see a looping header cleared off the line.
It was one-way traffic and on 10 minutes, the Blues had doubled their lead of the Dutch side.
Bernardo Silva skipped towards the box before passing to the overlapping Kyle Walker and his excellent cross was expertly guided home by Sergio Aguero who edges ever closer to confirming his place in Club history as the best striker ever to wear sky blue.
Already, the game looked beyond Feyenoord as the masterful De Bruyne ran the show, ably supported by Silva and Bernardo.
It was not a matter of if, just when City would score again and the question was answered emphatically on 25 minutes.
A half-cleared ball eventually fell to Benjamin Mendy 20 yards out and his powerful shot was parried by Brad Jones, but only into the path of Jesus who had the simplest of tasks from close range while the home players waited for an offside flag that was never coming.
Game, set and match.
The Feyenoord fans were waiting for something – anything – to spark their evening into life and it came in the shape of some questionable challenges and three bookings in five minutes for the hosts.
It was understandable there would be a brief lull with the points wrapped up and thoughts perhaps turning towards Watford at the weekend, but the truth was City were far from finished.
De Bruyne, outstanding from start to finish, claimed another assist with 63 minutes on the clock as he whipped in a cross after a short corner that Stones gleefully nodded past Jones for his second of the night.
Leroy Sane went close to adding a fifth but four goals, a clean sheet and three points will more than satisfy the City boss - and everyone else!
Key moment
The failure to get his feet under control as Stones’ header bounced towards him on the goal-line means Tonny Vilhena’s nightmare moment set the tone for what was to come for the Dutch champions.
City Matchday App star man: John Stones
Two goals and another assured display…
What it means…
City race to the top of Group F ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk who beat Napoli 2-1 in tonight’s other group game.
Next up are Shakhtar at the Etihad in a fortnight.
What next?
City return to Premier League action with a trip to Watford on Saturday...
