Manchester City’s Win over Stoke Perfect Preparation for Champions League Test

As preparations for a Champions League semi-final go, Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Stoke City was about as perfect as you’re going to get. They played some neat combination football going forward and kept a clean sheet, collecting three points that strengthened their position inside the top four. Most crucially, they achieved that while resting some of their star names.

Real Madrid visit the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for one of the most important nights in the club’s history. The La Liga side are strong favourites, and City need their best players in premium condition if they are to get a result. Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany and the over-worked Fernandinho were all rested for the game with the Stoke, with the latter pair not even in the 18-man squad.

And with City in such a commanding position around the hour mark, David Silva, troubled recently by more ankle pain, and Sergio Aguero, the club’s principle goalscorer, were both afforded early withdrawals. Only Yaya Toure’s knock in the final moments that saw him hobble around for the closing stages took any gloss off the afternoon.

The Stoke players appear to be in holiday mode already, coasting aimlessly to the season’s end. They have registered just one win in their last Premier League games and have now conceded 12 in their last three matches. Mark Hughes, a manager who demands hard work, will be concerned.

They were perfect opponents for City, barely putting up a fight. …

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