Manchester City vs. Viktoria Plzen: 6 Things We Learned

ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER

Having already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini had the luxury of rotating some of his starting lineup for what was effectively a dead rubber against Czech side Viktoria Plzen. In came the likes of Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko, while Yaya Toure and Alvaro Negredo were rested.

City ran out 4-2 winners, meaning they still have a chance of topping Group D if they can go to Bayern Munich on Matchday 6 and better the 3-1 win Bayern managed at the Etihad in October.

Joe Hart Will Benefit from a Start

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After sitting out the last five games, Joe Hart returned to the Manchester City starting XI for the match against Plzen, and he will have gained some much-needed confidence from what was a decent display. Hart performed well, making a couple of excellent saves that demonstrated his resilience after the intense scrutiny he has been under in recent weeks.

He was dropped for City's 7-0 win over Norwich earlier this month, the first time he had missed a top-flight game since April 2010—a run of 127 successive league starts. It's a highly unusual situation he now finds himself in as he bides his time and waits for opportunities to impress.

Tonight was his first glimpse of action since his clanger at Chelsea at the end of October and he did well. He will surely be boosted by his performance and will be hoping to get another chance in a competitive match soon.

City Still Struggling Defensively

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The absence of Vincent Kompany continues to adversely affect City. A poor Plzen side managed to score two goals and could easily have scored more, as City's defensive frailties show little sign of going away.

Martin Demichelis brings great experience and know-how to a back four that desperately needs it, but his lack of pace is a worry for City. A couple of times in this match, he was caught out by balls in behind, and against better sides it's a weakness that could be exploited.

It isn't just one person, though; it's a collective failure. Without Kompany, City looks less calm and secure in defence. Recovering their captain must surely be a priority over the coming weeks.

Fernandinho Continues to Impress

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After his summer move to City, many were skeptical about whether Fernandinho was a good acquisition. He cost a whopping £30 million, had only played in the Ukraine during his time in Europe and the two or three games after his excellent debut were underwhelming. You could hear the knives being sharpened already.

Fast-forward a few months, and Fernandinho has arguably been City's best player so far this season. His tackling, intercepting, running, commitment and range of passing mark him out as one of the finest midfielders in England right now.

He was excellent again against Plzen, driving City forward at every opportunity and breaking up the Czech sides' attacks. He knows his role and does it brilliantly, and City have bagged themselves a top midfielder.

Navas Growing in Confidence

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Jesus Navas had a patchy start to life as a City player. Some excellent, high-energy performances have been tempered by games where he's struggled to have any impact.

However, his impressive cameo at Sunderland, where he gave City a new attacking outlet after a lethargic first 45 minutes, seems to have turned the tide. It was enough to earn him a start on City's last match at home to Tottenham, and he was excellent, scoring two goals, including an incredible opener after 14 seconds, and injecting pace and width into the City side.

Against Plzen, he was again asked to play the second half, and it's clear his confidence has grown. He was constantly wanting the ball and looking to beat the opposition full-back, providing a lovely assist for Samir Nasri's goal.

For some players, adapting to a new club and new surroundings is straightforward; for Navas it's taken some time, but it seems he's finally showing how good he can be.

Negredo Can't Stop Scoring

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"The Beast" only came on for the final 15 minutes of this match but still managed to find the net. He's now scored five goals in five Champions League games this season and looks supremely confident every time he steps out on to the pitch.

The importance of Negredo and Aguero was made clear by Pellegrini's use of both players on Wednesday. Aguero played the first 45 minutes while Negredo was left on the bench until the 75th. With a tough match at home to Swansea on Sunday, the City boss wants his two main frontmen ready for action.

Kolarov Captain?

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Aleksandar Kolarov was handed the captain's armband for this game, a decision that was baffling for many observers.

With Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott and James Milner all starting the game, and almost certainly better candidates to captain City given their leadership and history at the club, it was a mystery why Pellegrini felt Kolarov was the best man to lead the side on Wednesday.

It's not the most important issue, but it was certainly an odd footnote to the night.