Manchester City got their Champions League campaign off to a confident start as they beat Czech side Viktoria Plzen thanks to strikes by Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
After a nervous first half, Manuel Pellegrini's side went ahead when Dzeko finished a break after 48 minutes.
Within 10 minutes City were 3-0 up as Toure curled in from 25 yards and then Aguero fired in after a smart turn.
Plzen came closest when Tomas Horava hit the post from a corner.
Aguero also hit the post in the first half, while Dzeko and Toure should both have headed in, but it was a welcome victory for City who recorded their first win in seven Champions League games.
After finishing bottom of their group last season, and having failed to reach the knockout stages two seasons ago, City's wealthy owners have targeted success in Europe this term.
And while they will face steeper challenges, namely holders Bayern Munich in their next Group D match, this result will have soothed any apprehension.
Further good news came in the shape of returning skipper Vincent Kompany, who completed 90 minutes after being out injured since City's opening day victory over Newcastle on 19 August.
More to follow.
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LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Plzen
- 01 Kozacik
- 21 Prochazka
- 02 Hejda (Hubnik - 66' )
- 07 Horava
- 08 Limbersky Booked
- 10 Horvath
- 11 Petrzela
- 19 Kovarik
- 26 Kolar (Duris - 61' )
- 27 Rajtoral
- 23 Bakos (Tecl - 84' )
Substitutes
- 13 Bolek
- 04 Hubnik
- 12 Duris
- 24 Pospisil
- 25 Koukal
- 09 Tecl
- 15 Wagner
Manchester City
- 01 Hart
- 04 Kompany
- 05 Zabaleta
- 13 Kolarov Booked
- 33 Nastasic
- 08 Nasri
- 15 Navas (Milner - 67' )
- 25 Fernandinho Booked
- 42 Toure (Garcia - 80' )
- 10 Dzeko (Negredo - 83' )
- 16 Aguero
Substitutes
- 30 Pantilimon
- 06 Lescott
- 07 Milner
- 14 Garcia
- 17 Rodwell
- 09 Negredo
- 35 Jovetic
Ref: Tagliavento
Att: 11,000
Live Text Commentary
90:00+2:04Full time
Full TimeThe game is over, as the referee blows the whistle.
90:00+1:12
The offside flag is raised against Michal Duris. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:55
Pavel Horvath decides to take a short corner.
90:00+0:43
A cross is delivered by Milan Petrzela. Clearance by Pablo Zabaleta.
90:00+0:19
Corner taken by Pavel Horvath. Alvaro Negredo makes a clearance.
89:31
Sergio Aguero takes a shot.
87:33
Corner taken by Pavel Horvath from the left by-line. Tomas Horava takes a shot and bounces off the post.
87:04
Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Matus Kozacik parries the effort to safety.
84:07
Matija Nastasic fouled by Stanislav Tecl, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
83:07Substitution
SubstitutionMarek Bakos goes off and Stanislav Tecl comes on.
82:19Substitution
SubstitutionAlvaro Negredo on for Edin Dzeko.
80:11
Pavel Horvath takes a shot and missed to the left of the net.
79:22
Free kick taken by Tomas Horava.
79:22Substitution
SubstitutionYaya Toure leaves the field to be replaced by Francisco Javi Garcia.
79:22
Jan Kovarik fouled by Samir Nasri, the ref awards a free kick.
75:29
James Milner produces a cross. Vaclav Prochazka manages to make a clearance.
73:48
Frantisek Rajtoral takes a shot. Blocked by Samir Nasri. Corner taken by Pavel Horvath.
73:16
Corner from the left by-line taken by Pavel Horvath. Samir Nasri makes a clearance.
72:38
The offside flag is raised against Aleksandar Kolarov. Matus Kozacik takes the free kick.
72:19
Aleksandar Kolarov sends in a cross. Tomas Horava manages to make a clearance.
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