Manchester City comfortably beat Shakhtar Donetsk to reignite Champions League ambitions

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's side discover European form to reignite title ambitions

David Silva celebrates scoring City's opener (Getty Images)

Manchester City made light work of Shakhtar Donetsk in their 3-0 victory in Ukraine to kick-start their Champions League ambitions.

Kevin De Bruyne, who made his first start of the season, saw a deflected shot turned in by David Silva to open the scoring and ease any nerves that Pep Guardiola’s may have been feeling following their defeat against Lyon and their slim, last minute win against Hoffenheim.

Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva scored either side of the break as City topped Group F following Lyon’s draw against Hoffenheim.

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When is it?

Kick off in Ukraine is at 20:00 BST.

Where can I watch online?

BT Sport will be showing live coverage on BT Sport 3 and online to customers on the BT Sport app. The Independent’s dedicated live blog will also provide live updates throughout the match.

Head to head record

These sides met in last season’s Champions League, and City won 2-0 at home, but were beaten 2-1 away.

Odds

Manchester City to win: 1/3

Shakhtar Donetsk to win: 9/1

Draw: 5/1

Prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Manchester City

Key Points

• Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Matviienko, Kryvtsov, Rakits’kyy, Ismaily, Maycon, Stepanenko, Wellington Nem, Kovalenko, Fernando, Moraes.
• Manchester City: Ederson, Laporte, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus.

[23 October 2018 19:39 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Big games

It's an important evening for both Manchester clubs. A win for United would see them move above Juventus in the Group H standings, while City are still recovering from a slow start to their campaign. They know that a result at Shakhtar tonight could be crucial.

[23 October 2018 19:51 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Elsewhere

Manchester United will be pleased to hear that Valencia have been held to a 1-1 draw by Young Boys in Switzerland. Bayern Munich were also in action in the early kick-offs, and they saw off AEK Athens with a 2-0 win.

[23 October 2018 19:55 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester United arrive late again as Jose Mourinho walks to Old Trafford for Juventus clash

United met at the Hotel Grand - some 250 yards away from Old Trafford - to ensure that they would arrive on time.

[23 October 2018 19:58 · Callum Rice-Coates]

The teams are out ahead of the 8pm kick offs. We're moments away from what promises to be a dramatic night of Champions League football...

[23 October 2018 20:03 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Manchester City

We're underway in Ukraine.

[23 October 2018 20:03 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester United 0-0 Juventus

And we've kicked off - after a slight delay - at Old Trafford.

[23 October 2018 20:06 · Callum Rice-Coates]

4 minutes

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Manchester City

The visitors make a quick start and David Silva sees a shot land on the roof of the net. City look lively.

[23 October 2018 20:08 · Callum Rice-Coates]

3 minutes

Manchester United 0-0 Juventus

Delays have been the story at Old Trafford thus far. Rashford wins a free kick in a promising position, but Juan Mata can't take it because a fan decides to run onto the pitch.

Nothing comes of it anyway.

[23 October 2018 20:09 · Callum Rice-Coates]

5 minutes

Manchester United 0-0 Juventus

It's been a promising start for United. They've been on the front foot, had a couple of set pieces, and largely penned the visitors in.

[23 October 2018 20:13 · Callum Rice-Coates]

9 minutes

Manchester United 0-0 Juventus

The first sign of danger from Juventus. Luke Shaw tries an ambitious pass out of defence but can only pick out Miralem Pjanić. He feeds Dybala, but the Argentine is dispossessed in the box.