FC Basel vs Manchester City: 5 Talking Points

#4 Gundogaaan, settles, fires in

Gundogan featured prominently in the perfect attacking performance by City.

What an unsettling feeling it must be for the other managers around the globe, that Ilkay Gudogan is only feeling his way back to the peak of his powers. We saw a few glimpses of that magic last night.

The pass-master almost opened the scoring with a well-directed header from a Bernardo Silva cross, only to be denied by Tomáš Vaclík in goal. But the former Dortmund man wasn't to be denied a second time. He beat the keeper on 14 minutes, steering a header inside the near post, off a Kevin de Bruyne corner. Yet another assist for the Belgian.

The German added a second after the restart, when he cut back onto his favorite right foot on the edge of the box, and with a half-stabbed, half-whipped effort, seemed to place the ball into the back of the net. Outrageous effort. Unerring accuracy.

He should have got his hat-trick but was brilliantly denied by the Czech in goal, as the German connected sweetly with a cross from the right flank.

The midfielder looked assured on the ball and was lively throughout. He looks like he is slowly regaining the confidence that makes him such a special talent, specifically on nights that are preceded by the champions' league anthem.

Something Manchester City can certainly do with, still alive in all four competitions, despite the League all but wrapped-up.