Close though it was, the manner of the 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk has seen the press take many positives from the game.
Indeed, in The Mirror, Andy Dunn suggests the win proved the Blues have the substance to go with the style displayed in their recent run of emphatic victories.
He writes: “No goal feast, no exhibition, no swashbuckle, no records, no worries for Pep Guardiola.
“In fact, of all the recent victories, you can bet this one pleased him most.
“Won not just through Kevin de Bruyne’s crisp strike from distance and Raheem Sterling’s late cake-icer but won through discipline, resilience and persistence, qualities that have not always been evident in the time since Guardiola’s arrival.
“There was the odd scare but this was a victory against a very good side.”
Over at the Manchester Evening News it’s a similar story, with James Robson surmising that whilst the result may suggest a close fought game, the home side’s performance was dominant.
Robson reports: “The margin of victory was relatively narrow - but the manner of it not.
“When Raheem Sterling put the game beyond doubt in the 90th minute it was the least City deserved after an utterly comprehensive second half display.
“Guardiola’s team are growing right in front of our eyes - and Europe remains a hurdle.
”That they continued to cut the Ukrainian champions open - even as the nerves began to filter through the stadium was a significant step forward.
“This is how Guardiola demands his teams play. Fearlessly, offensively, relentlessly.”
Kevin De Bruyne netted a sublime strike to open the scoring at the Etihad and that too has not gone unnoticed in the press.
The Belgian is earmarked for praise by FourFourTwo, who write: “On more or less the same patch of grass where he sunk Paris Saint-Germain in the 2016 quarter-final, Kevin De Bruyne curled sumptuously into the top corner from 25 yards to continue a regal run of form.
“De Bruyne was a goal machine from midfield under Manuel Pellegrini but he now vividly decorates matches with the full array of his talents.
“De Bruyne is a footballer with an innate feel for the big moments and designs on greatness. No wonder City want to tie him down to a longer contract; no surprise if weekend opponents Chelsea still rue his departure.”
That’s your lot for today, Blues!
