City defeats Stoke in perfect warm-up for Real showdown
Manchester City enjoyed the perfect preparation for their Champions League semi-final showdown against Real Madrid with a 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City at Eastlands on Saturday. Goals from Fernando, Sergio Aguero, via the penalty spot, and a second-half Kelechi Iheanacho double left City in buoyant mood before Cristiano Ronaldo and company arrive in Manchester. With the first-leg visit of Real for one of the biggest matches in City’s history just four days away, manager Manuel Pellegrini left Kevin De Bruyne on the substitutes’ bench, left out Fernandinho and didn’t risk a second game inside a week for captain Vincent Kompany. Raheem Sterling was also an unused substitute but the selection did not backfire as City climbed back to third place after securing the Premier League points they needed to move closer to a guaranteed top-four finish and Champions League football again next season. With De Bruyne among those held back for Europe, teenage forward Iheanacho was given a fourth league start of the season. And he was only inches away from a fourth league goal as City made a positive start, collecting a pass from Aguero before curling a low shot just wide from 20 yards. With the fit-again David Silva always prominent before he made way with an hour under his belt following two games out with his on-going ankle problem, City looked as though they were keen to get their business done early to avoid over-exerting themselves ahead of next Tuesday’s big night. But Stoke, looking to complete a league double over City for the first time since 1980-81 following a 2-0 home win in December, mounted a brief threat themselves
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