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Manchester City booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 3-2 victory on the night and 5-3 victory on aggregate over Bristol City.
Leroy Sane opened the scoring when Aden Flint could not stop his effort as he tried to clear on the line, before shortly into the second half, Sergio Aguero made it 2-0 with a fine finish.
Bristol City fought back with a Marlon Pack header and Aden Flint goal to claw it back to 2-2. However, with Bristol City pouring all their players forward, Manchester City was able to counter and Kevin De Bruyne slotted home from close range.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Bristol City
Luke Steele – 6
Steele made a few good stops on the night and could do nothing about the three City goals. Unfortunately, he faced world class opposition which he isn’t used to.
Korey Smith – 6
Filling in at right-back, Smith did a good job of dealing with Sane who continuously made runs in behind or run directly at him. But, he did prove a bit too much for him at times.
Aden Flint – 5
Flint, who performed brilliantly in the first leg had a much tougher night in the home leg. He simply wasn’t able to clear Sane’s shot off the line, and was part of a defence that eventually conceded three. However, he did get himself on the scoresheet with what he thought was a goal that would earn them a draw right at the end.
Bailey Wright – 5
Wright, like his center-back partner Flint, had a very difficult night. He came into the team to replace Baker, who had a slight injury fear, but he did not replicate Baker’s performance at the Etihad. However, it was different and the whole Bristol City team were penned in their half for most of the game.
Hordur Magnusson – 4
Magnusson did well to contain Bernardo Silva for almost 45 minutes, but a poor decision to try and shield the ball out of play caused City’s opener, and he was seemingly subbed off for it at half-time.
Josh Brownhill – 7
Boyhood man city fan Great feet in tight spaces Boyhood Manchester City fan Brownhill put in an excellent performance. He showed some great feet in tight spaces and was one of the standout performers for the home side, especially in the first half when the rest of the team were finding it very hard to keep the ball.
Marlon Pack – 7
Pack may have been struggling against Manchester City’s creative midfield three, but he climbed well to head home Bristol City’s second-half goal, which is only his second in all competitions this season.
Liam Walsh – 5
Walsh had a difficult night, understandably, as De Bruyne and Silva interchanging saw him mainly chase shadows all evening.
Joe Bryan – 7
Continued to build on his home performance against Man United as he defended brilliantly against a very creative and tricky Bernardo Silva. The left-back could soon be on the way to the Premier League with the performances he has been putting in.
Jamie Paterson – 6
Paterson was struggling to see much of the ball and often lost it when he did, but his hard work paid off when a good cross set up Pack for a great header to make it 2-1.
Bobby Reid – 7
Reid worked tirelessly all night and played a big part in both of his team’s goals. He played a great cushioned ball to Paterson who then set up Pack, and additionally Reid’s climb to nod down for Flint almost got his team a draw.
Substitutions:
Nathan Baker – 5
The defender should have arguably got closer to Aguero as he allowed him to pick his spot and make it 2-0. However, it was always going to be difficult being thrown on at center back against Aguero in the middle of the match.
Famara Diedhiou – 7
The substitute, who has spent a long time on the sidelines injured, made a big impact off the bench, he held the ball up well, worked hard and helped Bristol City create more chances. Causing havoc from a high long ball he played an important role in Bristol City’s goal.
Ryan Kent – 6
The Liverpool loanee showed off some skills and did well in possession, but he did not see as much of the ball as he would have liked.
Manchester City
Claudio Bravo – 6
Bravo could not do anything about either goal and showed great, quick distribution. However, he did still concede two goals, something Ederson has done few times this season.
Kyle Walker – 7
Walker put in a great performance and showed brilliant athleticism getting up and down the right flank. And even though he does so much in attack, he also did so well tracking Bristol City on their left-hand side.
John Stones – 6
Stones was mainly good defensively and in possession but he still seemed somewhat shaky and nervous after a few recent mistakes since his return from injury in the last few weeks.
Nicolas Otamendi – 6
Otamendi was as usual, solid in possession and mainly the same in defense. But his positioning for Bristol City’s goal was very questionable, although it was never going to affect the outcome of the tie.
Alexander Zinchenko – 6
Zinchenko made a great start to the first half getting up and down the left flank, but his performance fizzled out and he mainly contributed defensively and was even beaten in the air by Reid as Bristol City scored a second.
Fernandinho – 7
In the first half, Fernandinho was good in possession but committed a few too many fouls and was even booked for pulling down Reid. In the second half, however, he put in a great defensive shift and cleared up any Bristol City attempts for counter attacks.
Kevin De Bruyne – 8
In the first half, De Bruyne was sloppy in possession and was giving the ball away too often. But immediately in the second half De Bruyne played a quick ball in behind to Aguero on the break and watched him get City’s second. Then finally, to give City the win and their third goal, he knocked the ball past Steele from close range in stoppage time.
David Silva – 7
David Silva was constantly probing and always trying all evening to create chances. He was finding lots of pockets of space and always wanted the ball, it was another excellent performance from the Spaniard.
Bernardo Silva – 7
His pressure on Magnusson played an important role in the opening goal which was so crucial in the tie. He wasn’t quite his usual self and was kept quiet by both Magnusson and Bryan for the most part, but still showed moments of magic.
Sergio Aguero – 7
Aguero was not as involved as many other City players in the second leg, but he was still able to get himself on the scoresheet. Picking the ball up just inside the box, he knocked it past Steele perfectly into the corner as he made it 2-0 early in the second half.
Leroy Sane – 8
A good first half from the German was rounded off with a goal as his effort was deflected in after already beating the goalkeeper. In the second half, he just continued to pressurize the Bristol City defense and got a great assist when setting up De Bruyne for an easy finish.
Substitutions:
Ilkay Gundogan – N/A
Gundogan kept possession well when he came on, but there wasn’t long for him to make much of an impact in neither defensive or attacking areas.
Danilo – N/A
Danilo came close with an effort off the bench, but he only played the final five minutes.
