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City in cruise control

Manchester City 1 Steaua Bucharest 0 (agg 6-0): Fabian Delph completes the job as Pep Guardiola’s men sail through to the Champions League group stages

Despite being relatively untroubled, Joe Hart kept a clean sheet in what could be his final game at the Etihad

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A Fabian Delph header helped ensure Manchester City's qualification into the Champions League group phrase after a dull 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the Etihad.

The midfielder scored his first goal of the season as he climbed highest to head home Jesus Navas' cross 10 minutes after half time as City failed to get out of second gear.

Fabian Delph celebrates his goal with his teammates
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Fabian Delph celebrates his goal with his teammatesCredit: PA:Press Association
Joe Hart may have played his final game for Manchester City
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Joe Hart may have played his final game for Manchester CityCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

But most of the attention before the fixture was aimed at Joe Hart who may have played his final game for the club.

The England stopper was barely tested throughout as he kept a clean sheet in a game of little chances.

See who else made the group stages with the Champions League round-up

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • Big cheer for Joe Hart when he first touched the ball. And it was with his feet, which has been what Pep Guardiola wants improving.
  • "Don't sell Joe Hart "was the chant from fans as they made their feelings clear to Guardiola.
  • City fans still unhappy with UEFA after feeling targeted by their FFP sanctions. Boos during the Champions League anthem.
  • Pep went for 4-1-4-1 with Fernando holding as an anchor and Kelechi Iheanacho up front.
  • Numbers were up at the Etihad thanks to reduced prices for kids to get in.
Yaya Toure also made his first appearance of the season
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Yaya Toure also made his first appearance of the seasonCredit: Getty Images
Pep Guardiola rang in the changes for the tie
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Pep Guardiola rang in the changes for the tieCredit: Getty Images
Joe Hart applauds supporters after what could be his final game for the club
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Joe Hart applauds supporters after what could be his final game for the clubCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
  • Yaya Toure was starting his first game for Guardiola and looked in decent shape, much slimmer than last season.
  • Pablo Maffeo staked a claim at right-back. Spaniard looks quick and at 19 has a bright future ahead of him.
  • Fabian Delph showed that he wasn't all about shielding hours defence. Got forward in the second half and nodded in to break deadlock.
  • Hart almost broke out into a smile when City fans gave him a massive ovation in the second half.
  • Yaya Toure started his first game of the season, showing where is stands in Guardiola’s pecking order.

Man City next five games

Aug 28 - West Ham (h), PL
Sep 10 - Man United (a), PL
Sep 13/14 - Champions League
Sep 17 - Bournemouth (h), PL
Sep 20 - Swansea (a), EFL Cup

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Manchester City

Hart 6, Maffeo 7, Stones 6 (Adarabioyo 60, 6), Kolarov 8, Clichy 7, Toure 6, Fernando 7, Delph 8, Navas 7, Iheanacho 6 (Fernandinho 76, 6), Nolito 7 (Angelino 60, 6)

Subs not used: Aguero, Gunn, Silva, Sterling

Goals: Delph 56

STAR MAN: Fabian Delph, 8

WHAT THEY SAID

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart: "That was a really special night for me.

"I've had a lot of good nights in football. We all know there is a situation going on.

"I feel like inside, outside of all the circus, we are handling it well with a good team and some good management staff and I enjoyed tonight.

"I'm really happy Fabian scored, he's dreamed of scoring a header and he has won us the game and it puts us in the Champions League. It was a special night for us and a really nice night for me."

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