Match Report: Sevilla 0-4 Manchester City (UEFA Champions League)

Manchester City kickstarted their Champions League campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on Tuesday evening.

An even start to the tie saw both sides enjoy brief spells of possession, with the first chance falling the visitors' way when Erling Haaland failed to connect well from Kevin De Bruyne's cross towards the edge of the six year box.

City got into their rhythm soon after and started clicking in possession as Jack Grealish took the ball into his stride and found the side netting with a strike from the edge of the area around the 10 minute mark.

The visitors broke on the counter a few times in the opening 15 minutes courtesy of their relentless pressing led from the front by Haaland, who was accompanied by Grealish and Phil Foden in attack against the La Liga side.

Ruben Dias found Phil Foden with a well-weighed lofted ball over the defence shortly after 16 minutes but the England international failed to get a shot away as he drove towards Sevilla keeper Bono.

Kevin De Bruyne skied an effort shortly after - having endured an uncharacteristically tough time in front of goal against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

After 20 minutes, the Belgian was back doing what he does best as he picked up a through ball from Foden on the edge of the area and drilled in a cross that was turned in by Haaland for his 11th goal of the season.

De Bruyne went close from distance as he struck a free-kick into the side netting, with Manchester City in complete control of the game and Julen Lopetegui's men sitting deep in their half with 15 minutes left till the interval.

The Premier League champions remained in the driving seat and nearly went two up on a couple of occasions before half time.

Sevilla should have levelled at around 40 minutes when Thomas Delaney found Papu Gomez with a lovely cushioned ball in Ederson's box but the Argentine forward failed to hit the target.

City's left side boasting Sergio Gomez and Jack Grealish were a constant menace for the Sevilla backline in the first half, often combining with De Bruyne to play in Haaland in and around the penalty area.

Pep Guardiola's men entered the interval with a narrow lead that they should have bettered, though Sevilla missed a great chance to level proceedings when Gomez saw his effort rise above the crossbar.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Kevin De Bruyne steal possession in Sevilla's half to set up a two versus one situation with Erling Haaland alongside the four-time Premier League winner.

De Bruyne went alone but saw a weak effort saved by Bono - much to Guardiola's frustration. Haaland then nearly bagged his second as his flicked attempt from Bernardo Silva's cross just missed the left side of the post.

Phil Foden took matters into his own hands shortly prior to the hour mark as he shimmied past a couple of challenges at the edge of the area after collecting a ball from Joao Cancelo to place it in the bottom corner and give City a much-deserved two goal lead.

Ilkay Gundogan came on for Jack Grealish and had the ball in the net soon after his introduction before he was flagged offside.

Haaland put the tie to bed by tapping home after Bono parried an effort from Foden right into the forward's path.

Julian Alvarez and Cole Palmer then came on for Haaland and Foden respectively as Guardiola looked to rest some of his key attacking guns to face Tottenham this weekend.

Cancelo came close to making in four after 73 minutes on the break, with Bono stopping a powerful effort from the Portuguese from distance.

Sergio Gomez excelled on his first competitive start in Manchester City colours and debutant Manuel Akanji slotted in seamlessly at centre-half in the absence of John Stones and Aymeric Laporte.

Guardiola could again look to shuffle his pack against Tottenham ahead of a visit from Borussia Dortmund next week before a tricky league test against Wolves.

Ruben Dias added a fourth in stoppage time after Joao Cancelo delivered a peach of a cross into the box to wrap up a wave of Manchester City attacks in the closing stages.

It finished 4-0 to Pep Guardiola's men as Manchester City dominated from the early stages right till the very end and whilst they could have scored a few more, the Blues will take a happy journey back to Manchester after a good night out in Seville.