In the recent Premier League opener, Manchester City secured a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Sunderland. While Pep Guardiola’s Premier League debut wasn’t flawless, the result served its purpose. At this stage, Guardiola’s top priority is guiding City into the UEFA Champions League group stage, so it’s understandable that the team didn’t go full throttle in the domestic match. And their dominant 5-0 away win in Bucharest proved they were saving their best for Europe.

This emphatic away win left little doubt about City’s qualification hopes. Yet the match in Romania was anything but smooth sailing. Within the first eight minutes, City earned a penalty, only to see Sergio Agüero’s shot saved by the goalkeeper. Nolito’s rebound rattled the crossbar. Fortunately, David Silva broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a sharp low finish after a clever assist from Raheem Sterling.

But City’s misfortune wasn’t over. In the 21st minute, another penalty was awarded after Aleksandar Kolarov was fouled, but Agüero’s second attempt slammed into the bar. With a narrow 1-0 lead, City struggled to extend their advantage. Shots from Kolarov, Sterling, and Nolito all struck the frame of the goal. In total, the team missed two penalties and hit the post or bar five times.

Despite the missed opportunities, City’s superior firepower shone through. Agüero bounced back from his early misses, scoring a hat-trick with goals in the 41st, 78th, and 89th minutes. Although it didn’t match his five-goal explosion against Newcastle last season, it was still a standout performance. Meanwhile, new signing Nolito opened his account for the club with a composed finish, marking a promising start to his City career.

Under Guardiola, Manchester City has shifted away from the reactive, defense-first approach of former manager Manuel Pellegrini. Instead, Pep’s philosophy emphasizes possession and intricate passing—hallmarks of his time at Barcelona. In just two competitive matches, City’s style has already started to reflect the iconic Tiki-Taka rhythm, with flowing link-up play and relentless ball control in the final third.

The win against Steaua Bucharest demonstrated how quickly the players are adapting to Guardiola’s vision. As City continues to evolve, fans are beginning to wonder just how far this new-look squad can go in Europe. Can Guardiola replicate or even surpass last season’s semi-final run under Pellegrini? The answer is still up in the air, but if this performance is anything to go by, Manchester City under Pep is starting to click.

For fans following every thrilling moment of City’s journey, the Melbet App provides instant access to match updates, player stats, and live coverage on the go. Stay tuned with the Melbet App as Guardiola’s City sets its sights on Champions League glory.