Manchester City cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Two goals from the sensational Phil Foden and a stunning third from Kevin De Bruyne sealed the win, but the Championship side didn’t go down without a fight.
The game had all the hallmarks of an FA Cup classic: a raucous sell-out crowd, a charged atmosphere, and a fierce contest between a team with nothing to lose and the current champions of England.
Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City came into the game on the back of an unbeaten run of 12 matches, and they put up a good fight. City dominated the opening exchanges, and Foden opened the scoring with a cool finish from Riyad Mahrez’s cross. But the Robins remained lively and caused problems for City’s defence.
The tempo didn’t let up after the break, and City looked for the all-important second goal. However, Bristol City continued to push forward, sensing a chance to level the score. But it was City who struck again, with Foden scoring his second after a beautiful team move, and De Bruyne adding a third with a magnificent curling shot from 25 yards out.
Foden was the star of the show, delivering another high-energy, inventive, and industrious performance. Guardiola described him as City’s “diamond,” and Foden certainly shone bright like one with his two goals and all-round display.
City’s attention now turns to the Premier League, where they face Newcastle United at home this weekend. The Magpies have two games in hand but trail City by 14 points.
City’s win over Bristol City also saw them extend their impressive FA Cup record, having won their last 13 matches against lower-division sides by an aggregate score of 45-8. They have also won their last 11 away games in the competition, the longest such run in the history of the FA Cup.
