Three Key Takeaways: Manchester City Advance to F.A. Cup Fifth Round

Manchester City’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling (2R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with team-mates during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park in south London on January 28, 2017. / AFP / Ben STANSALL / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) /

Manchester City booked their spot into the English F.A. Cup fifth round on Saturday after a convincing 3-0 road win at struggling Crystal Palace F.C.

Pep Guardiola‘s men were looking to get back to winning ways after a 2-2 home draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays Premier League a week ago.

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A shuffled line-up was expected from Guardiola, who made five changes to the line-up that drew a weekend ago. Willy Caballero got the nod in net, while Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna started in the back-line. Fabian Delph came into midfield, while Gabriel Jesus started as the main striker.

City started off strong, as David Silva recorded the first effort on-target. Palace’s Christian Benteke and James Tomkins had their first half efforts saved by Caballero.

The breakthrough came two minutes to halftime as Raheem Sterling slid home a right-footed effort to the bottom right corner. Jesus was credited with his first assist for Manchester City in his first start for the club.

After City took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, they continued to pressure early in the second half. Delph had his long-range effort saved by Wayne Hennessey. Leroy Sane doubled City’s advantage in the 71st after he finished off David Silva’s assist.

Yaya Toure ended a perfect afternoon for the team after he curled home a right-footed free-kick into the top left corner. A convincing 3-0 scoreline, advanced City into the quarterfinals of the competition.

Pep’s men out-possessed the London club 60%-40%, while creating six efforts on-goal. Hennessey made three saves in the defeat, while Caballero made three in the clean sheet.

Following the match, Pep Guardiola praised his team’s goals and clean sheet in an interview with BBC Sport. “While it’s good to have a clean sheet because of the goals we’ve conceded lately, it is also important to score goals, which we did. We can play better but I’m happy and David was amazing the way he kept waiting and waiting for the right moment before playing in Leroy. We are also happy for Vincent. He’s had a long time away and he played 90 minutes with no injuries. Now he can go forward with confidence and we have another player for the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League which is very important because the games will come thick and fast now.”

Here are my three key takeaways from an important F.A. Cup triumph at Selhurst Park.

1.) Healthy Kompany can do wonders for City’s defense.
Making his first appearance in nine weeks, Vincent Kompany looked back to full fitness in today’s win. With bad luck and consistent calf/knee problems, Kompany played the full 90 minutes and gave Pep Guardiola another defender to add to the mix. A healthy Kompany can do wonders for City’s back-line which held Palace to only three chances, and zero goals. He is a leader in the back, and would help the team also on set-pieces in the air. With Champions League, F.A. Cup, Premier League matches coming thick and fast, Kompany’s experience is a plus for the rest of the season.

2.) Aguero, De Bruyne rested = no problem.
With a league fixture approaching on Wednesday at West Ham, Guardiola knew he had to pick his line-up carefully. He opted to rest players such as Claudio Bravo, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, and Sergio Aguero. Despite making five changes, it paid off as City looked in control and were able to score three times and earn a clean sheet. David Silva had an outstanding performance in midfield, while Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane were pests down the wings. Gabriel Jesus looked good, playing the full 90 also, while tallying an assist. If the team can build off today’s win and go on a run, they could surprise some teams in the E.PL. title race.

3.) Willy Caballero proves himself yet again.
Being a cup competition, Willy Caballero started in net to no surprise. The Argentine keeper made three saves in City’s first clean sheet since January 6th. Even at 35, Caballero proved to Guardiola on Saturday that he can still help this team win. With Claudio Bravo‘s recent struggles in-goal, I would not be surprised if Pep starts Willy at West Ham on Wednesday. To give Bravo an extra rest would be good for the Chilean, mentally and physically. If Willy gives the team the better chance to win, then he 100% deserves to start going forward.

Next: Manchester City: 3 ideal keeper targets to replace Claudio Bravo

Manchester City will find out their fifth round opponent on Monday following the F.A. Cup Draw. They travel to West Ham in league play on Wednesday, before hosting Swansea City next Sunday at the Etihad.