Man City continued their winning streak in the group stages of the Champions League with a hard fought 2-0 success over a lively Shakhtar Donetsk outfit.
City shrugged off a lethargic first 45 minutes to eventually overcome their Ukrainians opponents who caused their hosts plenty of problems before the break but failed to keep up that momentum in the second half.
City may have scored 27 goals in 8 matches this season and whilst they should have added to this tally in the first half it was their opponents Shakhtar Donetsk who shocked their hosts with an attacking display which should have seen them on the scoresheet.
A fairly low key game became a frustrating affair for the home team, their fans and boss Pep Guardiola, who cut an exasperated figure on the touchline as his team wasted opportunities, gave the ball away, played at a pedestrian pace and looked suspect at the back to the swift attacks of the Ukrainians.
Both Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane shot wide from one-on-one situations with the visitor's keeper Andriy Pyatov and Sergio Aguero, looking to equal City's goalscoring record, also brought a couple of smart saves from the keeper.
Yet it was Shakhtar who looked the most impressive seemingly causing problems with almost every attack as the City defence looked hesitant and unsure. Fernandinho with a last ditch tackle prevented City going behind, then a lack of communication from cross almost gifted the Ukrainians a goal.
Keeper Emerson had to be alert in stopping a fierce Marlos shot and Shakhtar created more than enough half chances to have gone in at the break going some way to redeeming their record of losing 5 of their 6 games played in England.
The Ukrainians confidence was shown in the way they were out on the pitch for the second half long before City.
But within two minutes of the restart it was City who broke the deadlock. The ball was given away in midfield by the visitor's and David Silva worked the ball to De Bruyne who hammered a 20 yard shot past a static keeper.
Silva was almost provider again but his delicate chip whilst met by Aguero was well saved. Now it was City in the ascendancy as they went looking for a second goal to kill the game and seal the win.
Such an opportunity fell to substitute Raheem Sterling but he steered De Bruyne's cross wide from close range. Then a penalty was awarded in the 70th minute after a quick break starting with City keeper Emerson ended with Sane being brought down. Aguero stepped up to equal the record but his effort was palmed around the post.
The penalty miss gave some hope to Shakhtar of salvaging a point leading to some nervy moments as the minutes ticked down. A disappointed Aguero was substituted to sympathetic applause with 7 minutes remaining.
Sane tried to walk the ball into the net but was crowded out which led to a late spell of pressure from the Ukrainians, but nerved were calmed a minute from time as Sterling fired high into the net extending City's unbeaten home record in Europe to 11 games.
Full Time
Man City : 2 (De Bruyne 48, Sterling 89)
Shakhtar Donetsk: 0
