Manchester City vs. CSKA Moscow: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Manchester City cruised through to the knockout stages of the Champions League thanks to a 5-2 win at home over CSKA Moscow.

"

5 - Manchester City have scored five goals in a single Champions League match for the first time in their history. Fireworks.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 5, 2013"

It took City just two minutes to launch their first telling attack on goal, as David Silva outfoxed Zoran Tosic, winning a penalty in the process. Sergio Aguero placed the ball high beyond the reach of Igor Akinfeev.

A spell of CSKA pressure ensued as the home players failed to retain possession particularly well, but despite half-chances for Seydou Doumbia and Keisuke Honda, stand-in keeper Costel Pantilimon was not overworked for City.

Samir Nasri and Silva continued to create chances, and on 20 minutes, Aguero had his second, spinning off the defender to finish confidently and low beyond Akinfeev.

Honda tried his luck from a long-range set piece, but the next big chance resulted in another goal for City. Aguero this time turned provider, as he cut in from the right and crossed low for Alvaro Negredo, who had a simple tap-in at the far post for 3-0.

That should have made the game safe for City even before half-time, but Doumbia rounded Pantilimon to make it 3-1 just before the break.

Any hope the Russian side had of mounting a comeback was quickly extinguished after the break, though, as Yaya Toure's through ball was squared in style by Nasri for Negredo to sweep home his second of the night.

In the last seconds of the game, James Milner's cross was headed in by Negredo at the back post for his hat-trick and that was finally it for the goalscoring, as City booked their place in the knockout stages.

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PHOTO Alvaro Negredo celebrates his first hat-trick for #MCFC (his 7th, 8th and 9th goals of the season). pic.twitter.com/3XgJClRLv3

— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) November 5, 2013"

Key Player Grades

David Silva: B+

A very good first-half performance from the Spaniard, who won the penalty in the opening stages but also scythed through CSKA's defence on a number of other occasions.

Quietened a little as a few other City players took centre stage and was substituted early in the second half.

Sergio Aguero: A

Another fantastic display, as Aguero hit two early goals, provided the real focal point for City's attack and linked up extremely well with striking partner Alvaro Negredo as well as the line of attacking midfielders.

Seydou Doumbia: B+

Led the line well for CSKA Moscow despite not getting an awful lot of support or service. His pace and strength troubled City down the home team's left side and between left- and centre-back. He might have had a hat-trick if he'd scored on his first chance of the game.

As it was, he took his first goal well and won as well as finished a penalty.

Position	Player	Grade
Subs
GK	Pantilimon	B
DF	Zabaleta	B
DF	Nastasic	C+
DF	Demichelis	B
DF	Clichy	C
MD	Nasri	B+
MD	Fernandinho	C+
MD	Toure	B
MD	Silva	B+
FW	Aguero	A
FW	Negredo	A
MD	Milner	C+
MD	Kolarov	C
MD	Navas	C

Position	Player	Grade
Subs
GK	Akinfeev	C
DF	Nababkin	C+
DF	Berezoutski	D
DF	Ignashevitch	D
DF	Schennikov	C
MD	Wernbloom	D
MD	Milanov	D
MD	Honda	C
MD	Musa	D+
MD	Tosic	C+
FW	Doumbia	B+
MD	Zuber	C
MD	Elm	C+
FW	Vitinho	C

What's Next?

Having taken three points this evening and seen Bayern Munich do the same at Viktoria Plzen, Manchester City are now into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time.

CSKA Moscow are facing Europa League action after Christmas. Two group stage games remain.

Follow @karlmatchett