Manchester City rounded off their Champions League group stage in belated style on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Sevilla.
City had to overcome their own lack of urgency and sloppiness in the first half, after an uninspired first 45 minutes saw them go in at the break 1-0 down through Rafa Mir's header. But the Blues came out after the break with added impetus as youngster Rico Lewis and Julian Alvarez breathed life into the dull affair.
The young defender grabbed the equaliser in a dream debut while Alvarez put City ahead and set up the other two for a fine performance of his own. Here are five things you may have missed from the game:
Also read: Man City player ratings as Rico Lewis enjoys dream debut
Pep goes early
The first half was not a great spectacle, with the Etihad crowd - clearly impacted due to traffic chaos in the City - as flat and uninspired as City's crab-like passing and lack of urgency. The manager was clearly not best pleased with what he was watching and left the dugout a few minutes before the half-time whistle.
The half-time introduction of Rodri changed City's set-up and spurred them on to get the victory,
Record breakers
It was a great night for both Lewis and Alvarez who secured some impressive records in their young careers. Lewis was the highlight, of course, as he not only became City's youngster ever scorer in the Champions League but took it one step further. The 17-year-old also became the youngest player to ever score on his first start in the prestigious competition, a record previously held by Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema.
Alvarez, meanwhile, became the youngest Argentinean to be directly involved in three goals in a single Champions League match since a certain Lionel Messi managed it against Bayern Munich in April 2009, also with Guardiola in charge. That bodes well.
Warm reception for Navas
There were several Manchester connections in the Sevilla side with former Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj on the bench, on-loan left-back Alex Telles making a mistake in the build-up for the equaliser and former City defender Karim Rekik playing the 90 minutes.
The most recognisable face at the Etihad was Jesus Navas and though the winger didn't get on the pitch he did receive a warm reception from the home crowd when he ventured down the touchline to warm up.
Cold shoulder for Gomez
It was a bad night for Sergio Gomez, one that has made it very unlikely he will be back in the team again before the World Cup break. He was shoved off the ball (even off the pitch) when conceding the corner that led to Sevilla's opener and left goal-scorer Rafa Mir completely unmarked to nod home. The Spaniard was poor defensively and positionally throughout the game, unable to make amends for his foolish red card in Copenhagen and was taken off in a match in which he should have clocked 90 minutes.
Guardiola's disappointment was clear to see as he didn't embrace or even look at him as he left the pitch, moving to the opposite side of the technical area, but did hand Cole Palmer a high-five.
Lewis standing ovation
Star of the show Lewis was taken off with a few minutes remaining after appearing to be suffering from a bout of cramp. The referee ordered the teenager to leave the pitch on the opposite side to the dugout, robbing him of a typical standing ovation.
But what he did get might have been even better. As Lewis made his way around the circumference of the pitch the fans raised to applaud him in turn, with chants of 'Rico! Rico!' and 'he's one of our own!' echoing around the Etihad. City fans appear to have a new home-grown hero.
READ MORE:
