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Manchester City qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages for the first time last night after dismantling CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium and emerging with a 5-2 victory. Manuel Pellegrini did, in one attempt, what Roberto Mancini failed to do in several by exiting the group stages in the correct manner: upwards. Sergio Aguero grabbed two goals and Alvaro Negredo scored his first City hat-trick, but Samir Nasri also impressed on a successful night for the club.
Nasri was fantastic last night. Although he didn’t score, he assisted Aguero’s second goal and Negredo’s, too, as well as playing two key passes.
Overall, the French attacker completed 72 of his 82 attempted passes giving him an accuracy percentage of 88.
Samir Nasri stats
Nasri was very busy last night. Without having a shot, he was influential in City’s build-up play, expressing himself a lot all over CSKA’s half of the field, as shown by his Heat Map.
Samir Nasri stats
As you can see, Nasri drifted across the attacking areas of the pitch, swapping wings during the whole match. His successful take ons prove that, too. He attempted three and completed them all; two on the left wing and one on the right.
Samir Nasri stats
It was a very tidy performance from the Frenchman who didn’t attempt a single cross or tackle. He did, however, complete one clearance and lost out in one headed duel.
In the Champions League, Nasri is City’s third-highest scorer in Squawka’s Performance Score ranking system with 113 points. Negredo and Aguero are the two players ahead of him as they have been superb in front of goal so far. In all, the Frenchman has assisted four goals which is the best in the competition. His overall passing accuracy of 90% is also one of the highest in the City team.
The Mancunians are playing well and it’s no surprise given how well Nasri is performing.
He was key to City’s win and subsequent qualification last night. His passing, movement and creativity was integral to how they played. He has shown glimpses of his true ability throughout his City career but if he manages to perform like last night, more often, he will soon be back to playing his best football.
