Convincing victory in Kiev vindicates Manuel Pellegrini’s FA Cup team selection

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has heaped praise over his side’s much improved form during their 3-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie at NSC Olimpiyskiy. Sergio Aguero, Ya Ya Toure, Sterling will all look to lead the way offensively while fit again captain Vincent Kompany will be the rock that Manchester City’s defence is built on.

City produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Dynamo Kiev 3-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Ukrainian capital.

A deflected goal from Vitaliy Buyalskiy brought Kiev back before Yaya Toure a brilliant third in the 90th minute.

The match seemed to be coming to life after the hour mark, but his 68th minute red card ensured that the home side shut up shop and defended a draw, making their lives hard for the return leg in Madrid. “It’s not finished, but I think, playing away with a two-goal difference is a good result”, he told BT Sport.

“It is a very important result but nothing is finished”, the Chilean said after the game.

“For me, I know maybe for the home team it’s not advantage to play without fans, but for football it’s important”.

The match is the second in a three-game run for City that began with the FA Cup and ends with the League Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.

The first goal came in the 15th minute through Aguero who latched unto a knock down from Toure in the box and his volley had the beating of Olexandr Shovkovskiy.

Sunday’s 5-1 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea should be viewed in a different context because City fielded an under-strength side but the previous two losses to Leicester and Tottenham were damaging to Barclays Premier League title hopes.

“I’m very happy”, Pellegrini said. The main thing is, irrespective of the fact we didn’t play Barcelona this year, this game would always have been a hard game and we handled it well.

“Dynamo are a team who like to make a short build up”.

English teams had failed to record victory on their last five Champions League visits to Ukraine, and spritely forward Andriy Yarmolenko gave City an early scare when his blasted cross-shot was palmed upwards and onto the top of his crossbar by Joe Hart.