Manchester City claimed a resounding 5-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup on Sunday, showcasing their dominance through a revealing statistic.
Pep Guardiola’s side started the year on a high note with a comfortable win at the Etihad Stadium against the Championship club. Despite Huddersfield’s strong start and solid defense in the initial 20 minutes, City’s superior quality emerged, spearheaded by Phil Foden breaking the deadlock.
The second half saw Foden adding another goal alongside strikes from Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku, plus an own goal from Oscar Bobb’s deflected cross. The match unfolded as anticipated, with City controlling the game and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno making only a few saves.
An intriguing statistic highlighting City’s control emerged during the game, particularly regarding Manuel Akanji. Despite Akanji’s unfortunate injury sidelining him after 20 minutes, he managed to complete 27 passes, surpassing the total number of passes completed by the entire Huddersfield team, according to WhoScored.
The outstanding day for City included not only five goals and a clean sheet but also standout performances from Foden, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, and notable comebacks from Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, who returned from injury.
Although Akanji’s injury raised concerns among City fans, the impressive passing stat exemplified his contribution in a brief appearance, showcasing City’s dominance. Despite the expected outcome, City’s professionalism against a Championship side deserves recognition, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of FA Cup matches, where a 5-0 victory warrants praise.
The hope remains that Akanji’s injury isn’t severe, considering his significance to Pep’s squad due to his versatility in various defensive positions, even occasionally in midfield, a quality valued highly by the manager.
