Sergio Aguero marked his 300th appearance for Manchester City with a goal
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola described Riyad Mahrez as an "incredibly talented" player after he scored his first goals for the club to help them thrash Cardiff City.
Mahrez, who signed for £60m in the summer, tapped in his first goal - and Manchester City's fourth - after a patient, incisive team move, before whipping in his second late on.
"It's good to get the first goals," Guardiola said. "Of course it's important for him. He came here, he's an incredibly talented player. He deserves to play more minutes, like Phil Foden."
The 18-year-old Englishman played for around 25 minutes as a substitute. "It's a pleasure to watch Phil play football and of course Riyad as well," Guardiola continued. "But the season is too long and they have to be ready, prepared, because they are going to play a lot of minutes."
The stylish visitors were already out of sight by half-time, leading 3-0 thanks to Sergio Aguero's sweeping finish, a clever looping header from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan's delightful curling effort.
Cardiff simply could not live with an irresistible City side and, as they are still searching for their first win this season, the Bluebirds now find themselves second from bottom of the table.
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Relive Manchester City's win against Cardiff City
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Cardiff's Peltier suffers long-term injury
Superb City bounce back
Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva both got on the scoresheet
For Manchester City, this was an instant and convincing riposte following Wednesday's shock defeat at home to Lyon in the Champions League.
That loss was made to look like an aberration by this performance, even if it was against a newly promoted Cardiff side who look ill equipped to cope with the Premier League's leading teams.
City asserted their dominance from the first minute and, once Aguero had opened the scoring in his 300th appearance for the club after half an hour, this match became a procession.
Guardiola's players passed and moved with grace and speed, leaving their opponents bewildered.
Cardiff, a physically imposing side, will have been disappointed to allow one of the shortest players on the pitch, Bernardo Silva, to score the second with his head - but it was still a goal to marvel at, as the Portuguese arced his neck to generate the dip required to loop the ball backwards over goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
There was even more to admire in the third goal, as Gundogan neatly exchanged passes with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling before stroking the ball into the top corner.
Gundogan then turned provider for the fourth - and arguably the best - goal of the afternoon, with a sustained period of City possession freeing the Germany midfielder to square the ball for Mahrez to convert from close range.
The win has moved Manchester City up to second in the Premier League table.
Cardiff outclassed again
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Bluebirds were punished by better side - Neil Warnock
Tempers had flared when these two sides met here in the FA Cup in January, when Cardiff's Joe Bennett was sent off.
City thoroughly outclassed their opponents - then in the Championship - to win 2-0 on that occasion, and the gulf in quality appeared even greater this time.
Cardiff initially battled as enthusiastically as one would expect from a team managed by Neil Warnock. But as soon as they conceded the opening goal, a thrashing seemed inevitable.
While the Bluebirds may not have expected much from a fixture against the reigning champions, it will concern Warnock that his side have now conceded 12 goals in their past three games.
After matches against City, Chelsea and Arsenal, Cardiff will be relieved to welcome Burnley to south Wales next weekend.
Man of the match - Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
Several City players impressed, but perhaps none more than Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (left), who was intricate with his passing and lively with his movement, capping his display with an excellent goal.A 'long afternoon' - what they said
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock: "It was a long afternoon. I thought we started well. The first 30 minutes, we had shape and knew what we were doing but the goals killed us. I've not seen our heads go down like that.
"The first goal came from a corner which shouldn't happen, but the top teams - that's what they do. They find a weakness and one lapse and Aguero is in. The second goal I thought was a fluke. It came almost straight away and knocked the stuffing out of us really.
"It's a disappointment. Like I said before, it's not going to define our season but it will knock our chin on the floor a bit. The lads have got to get over the weekend and get on with next week."
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Pep Guardiola praises Man City's 'perfect' mental approach
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola [On his return from a touchline ban]: "I don't play. The managers, we are there to be there when they have little doubts, to support them.
"I don't know what's going to happen with that guys. It's the same group, they keep reacting, an exceptional group. They know how, when the situation is not good in terms of results, the closer I am to them.
"They deserve all my respect. They made me happy the last, more than one year, two seasons, and that's why - always I will be with them."
Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas on Match of the Day: "After the disappointment in mid-week it was important for City to get back to winning ways. It was that kind of afternoon for players like Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan and they seemed to enjoy themselves.
"Gundogan was special. He filled the void of not having David Silva in the side perfectly. He was willing to make things happen. Cardiff gave him too much space. It was his all round game - his deliveries into the box. It was a brilliant performance. He was the stand-out but Sterling was great and Riyad Mahrez got a couple of goals too."
City show their dominance - the stats
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Cardiff lost a home league game by a five-goal margin for the first time since April 1994 (2-7 v Cambridge in the third tier).
Since Pep Guardiola took over before the 2016-17 season, Manchester City have scored 5+ goals in 10 Premier League fixtures.
Sergio Aguero made his 300th appearance for Manchester City in all competitions, and scored his 205th goal for the club.
Manchester City striker Aguero has now scored 13 and assisted two more in his last 13 Premier League games against newly promoted sides.
Bernardo Silva scored and assisted in the same game for the first time ever for Manchester City in his 61 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Silva's goal for Manchester City was his first headed goal for the club in any competition.
Since the start of last season, Raheem Sterling has registered 12 Premier League assists, more than any other English player, and a tally only Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane can better overall (16 each).
Riyad Mahrez scored his first goals for Manchester City and his first double in the Premier League since netting twice for Leicester against Everton in December 2015.
What's next?
Cardiff City's next fixture sees them take on Burnley in the Premier League at home on Sunday, 30 September (16:00 BST).
Meanwhile, Manchester City travel to Oxford United in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, 25 September (19:45), before welcoming Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, 29 September (15:00).
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Cardiff
1Etheridge
2PeltierSubstituted forRichardsat 51'minutes
4Morrison
5Ecuele Manga
18Cunningham
33HoilettSubstituted forMurphyat 75'minutes
21Camarasa
8RallsBooked at 45mins
7Arter
14Reid
9WardSubstituted forZohoreat 63'minutes
Substitutes
3Bennett
6Richards
10Zohore
11Murphy
13Paterson
22Bamba
28Murphy
Man City
31Ederson
2Walker
30Otamendi
14Laporte
18Delph
20Bernardo Silva
25FernandinhoBooked at 60minsSubstituted forStonesat 74'minutes
8GündoganSubstituted forFodenat 69'minutes
7Sterling
10AgüeroSubstituted forMahrezat 61'minutes
19Sané
Substitutes
4Kompany
5Stones
21Silva
26Mahrez
33Gabriel Jesus
47Foden
49Muric
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
32,321
Match Stats
Home TeamCardiffAway TeamMan City
Possession
Home21%
Away79%
Shots
Home2
Away21
Shots on Target
Home2
Away10
Corners
Home1
Away9
Fouls
Home6
Away4
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 5.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 5.
Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Harry Arter.
Goal!Posted at 89'
Goal! Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 5. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Posted at 88'
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a headed pass.
Posted at 87'
Attempt saved. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.
Posted at 85'
Offside, Cardiff City. Víctor Camarasa tries a through ball, but Bobby Reid is caught offside.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Fabian Delph with a cross.
Posted at 80'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.
Posted at 80'
Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 79'
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Sean Morrison (Cardiff City).
Posted at 76'
Offside, Cardiff City. Kenneth Zohore tries a through ball, but Josh Murphy is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Cardiff City. Josh Murphy replaces David Junior Hoilett.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Manchester City. John Stones replaces Fernandinho.
Posted at 73'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joe Ralls.
Posted at 73'
Attempt blocked. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Phil Foden.
Posted at 70'
Offside, Manchester City. Kyle Walker tries a through ball, but Raheem Sterling is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Ilkay Gündogan.
Posted at 68'
Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City).
Goal!Posted at 67'
Goal! Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 4. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.
SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Cardiff City. Kenneth Zohore replaces Danny Ward.
SubstitutionPosted at 61'
Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Sergio Agüero.
BookingPosted at 60'
Fernandinho (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Posted at 60'
David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 59'
Leroy Sané (Manchester City) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a cross following a set piece situation.
Posted at 59'
Leroy Sané (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Greg Cunningham (Cardiff City).
Posted at 58'
Attempt missed. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left following a corner.
Posted at 58'
Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 58'
Attempt blocked. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva with a cross.
Posted at 57'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Sean Morrison.
Posted at 57'
Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 56'
Attempt saved. Bobby Reid (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sean Morrison with a headed pass.
Posted at 55'
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Posted at 55'
Danny Ward (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
SubstitutionPosted at 51'
Substitution, Cardiff City. Jazz Richards replaces Lee Peltier because of an injury.
Posted at 51'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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goal
Source: bbc.com