James McAtee’s first Manchester City goal caps win at Slovan Bratislava | Champions League

There were hints here of how Manchester City might struggle in Rodri’s absence as they struggled to administer the control their No 6 often brings. Yet Pep Guardiola’s men still sailed to a 4-0 victory, James McAtee’s 73rd-minute strike the last of these, which was a first in club colours and sealed City’s opening win of this 36-side league phase.

Guardiola chose Ilkay Gündogan and Matheus Nunes in central midfield to fill the Rodri void but City could cede possession cheaply around Slovan Bratislava’s area and be open to the attack: two issues the Spaniard’s presence often stymies.

The arch-strategist Guardiola could be seen noting this and is sure to find remedies. But, for now, he will be delighted at a victory that came at a venue teeming emotion due to its first hosting of a Champions League game at this stage.

After an extended light show featuring an impressive baritone singing a club anthem that had Slovan flags raised amid raucous applause, the real stuff began with a Slovan counter, the classic way to break City open.

Jérémy Doku claimed a corner, which Gündogan swung in from the right. Vladimir Weiss’s side defended and as Phil Foden tracked the manager’s son, also Vladimir Weiss, he received the ball. Watching from the sideline, Guardiola winced as Weiss beat City’s No 10 and steered the ball across to Marko Tolic, who missed.

The home fans adored this but not what followed – the opener. City clipped possession about, creating openings for Erling Haaland to surge down the left and, then, for a flying Savinho scissor-kick. The latter was blocked, the ball bounced to a lurking Gündogan outside Slovan’s area, and his shot pinballed via Kyriakos Savvidis beyond the helpless goalkeeper, Dominik Takac.

Weiss Jnr, Slovan’s captain, and Weiss Snr exchanged words but, soon, their side were 2-0 down. As a first foray for Slovan beyond the qualifying rounds, this had been billed as a mismatch. Foden, making his first start of the season against Slovakia’s champions of the past six years, suggested why with a curled finish of poise placed in the bottom corner, courtesy of a Doku pass.

In a switch typical of Guardiola’s ever-active football brain, Doku operated on the right and Savinho on the left: a first designed to throw the opposition, and which reaped several corners and an array of bisecting moves. Rico Lewis and Doku combined and the right-back shot, Takac saved, and, then, the winger saw an effort thump the angle of the left post.

This had become akin to an attacking exercise for City. A Foden attempt was parried by Takac on to the post and Slovan escaped again, as the drummer behind the keeper’s goal led Slovan’s tifosi in endless chants that created a festive atmosphere despite the score. Guardiola was not content, though, with City’s sloppiness, Foden a main culprit, as when losing the ball, forcing Haaland to gallop back to help, the manager wheeling round to grumble to his coaching staff at this.

Foden, too, blasted the ball wide when Haaland was available and miscued when trying to continue a move that involved Josko Gvardiol and Lewis. But the No 47’s rustiness did not matter as long as City kept probing. Next to take aim and hit the frame of the goal was Gündogan, from 19 yards out, the bar denying the visiting captain his second, as this opening 45 minutes ended as it started: with City tormenting their hosts and incessant drumming.

Keeping the ball against City is tough due to the ruthlessness of their hunt-in-numbers press. So Cesar Blackman killing the chance to do this by spearing a wild crossfield ball Kevin Wimmer failed to stop going out was criminal.

Guardiola spotted the same from his men in the ongoing vulnerability to transitions, which pointed to Rodri’s absence, as City were not always the usual efficient unit who could move Slovan around for prolonged passages.

The issue eased when relief came and following the type of break that worried the Catalan. One moment, Tigran Barseghyan was unloading near City goal, the next Haaland was slaloming in on Lewis’s pass, rounding Takac, and slotting coolly in make it 3-0, in what proved the Norwegian’s sign-off. He was replaced soon after by James McAtee, with Rúben Dias also coming on – for Manuel Akanji, the defender taking the armband from Gündogan.

As a contest the match was over. Any remaining intrigue concerned how many City might score and if the Slovaks might grab a consolation.

McAtee’s goal to remember came from a Foden pass and was an expertly drilled shot into the bottom corner.