Burnley 0-2 Man City: Kevin de Bruyne & Ilkay Gundogan secure win

Manchester City made an instant return to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win over struggling Burnley.

Liverpool's victory over Watford earlier on Saturday had knocked the defending champions off the summit for the first time since 4 December, but Pep Guardiola's side responded in impressive style at Turf Moor.

It took only five minutes for City to take the lead when Raheem Sterling knocked Rodri's cross into the path of Kevin de Bruyne, who time to pick his spot and fire into the roof of the net.

Sterling and De Bruyne combined again for the second goal, but this time it was Ilkay Gundogan who provided the finish - a cool volley past Nick Pope after Sterling found him in space inside the area.

By now, City were in complete control and could afford to see Sterling, Jack Grealish and substitute Gabriel Jesus waste excellent chances because Burnley never looked remotely capable of mounting a comeback.

The home side finally managed a shot on target after 75 minutes, when substitute Jay Rodriguez brought a diving save from Ederson, but they can take few positives from a fourth successive defeat other than the fact they avoided significant damage to their goal difference.

Burnley remain rooted in the bottom three, while City can head into next Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool knowing they will stay in first place if they avoid defeat.

City should have scored more

City have got a huge week ahead, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, before the visit of Jurgen Klopp's in-form Liverpool next Sunday - the start of a sequence where they play both teams twice.

Those are the games which will define City's season, but they needed to focus on this test first - and they passed it almost flawlessly.

De Bruyne's early goal settled the nerves of the travelling fans after Josh Brownhill sent an early header flashing wide for the hosts, and the points never looked in doubt from that point.

For long periods Burnley did not even get near the ball let alone City's penalty area, while City seemed content to keep possession rather than put much effort into chasing further goals.

They still created a host of second-half chances, with their failure to finish them the only way their performance could be faulted, although Jesus went extremely close to a third when he cracked a volley against the post.

It did not matter here, but they cannot afford to be so wasteful against Atletico or Liverpool in the days to come.

Burnley set for crucial period

Burnley also have two vital games on the horizon, with relegation rivals Everton the visitors here on Wednesday, before the Clarets travel to bottom-of-the-table Norwich next weekend.

This was hardly the ideal preparation because Burnley were completely outclassed, but they at least gave their fans something to shout about in the second half when Maxwel Cornet came off the bench.

Cornet added some much-needed spark to the Burnley attack and his link-up play with Wout Weghorst at last meant City's defenders were occasionally occupied, although Ederson's goal remained rarely at risk.

Player of the match

Bernardo SilvaBernardo Silva

Burnley

Squad number1Player namePope

Squad number9Player nameWeghorst

Squad number14Player nameRoberts

Squad number8Player nameBrownhill

Squad number17Player nameLennon

Squad number28Player nameLong

Squad number11Player nameMcNeil

Squad number4Player nameCork

Squad number18Player nameWestwood

Squad number5Player nameTarkowski

Squad number3Player nameTaylor

Squad number20Player nameCornet

Squad number19Player nameRodriguez

Squad number10Player nameBarnes

Line-ups

Burnley

Formation 4-5-1

1Pope

14Roberts28Long5Tarkowski3Taylor

17Lennon18Westwood4Cork8Brownhill11McNeil

9Weghorst

Substitutes

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

2Walker14Laporte6Aké27Cancelo

17De Bruyne16Rodri8Gündogan

7Sterling47Foden10Grealish

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Burnley 0, Manchester City 2.

Second Half ends, Burnley 0, Manchester City 2.

Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).

Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Hand ball by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

Offside, Burnley. Ashley Westwood tries a through ball, but Ashley Barnes is caught offside.

Rodri (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jay Rodriguez (Burnley).

Attempt missed. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

Nathan Aké (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Jay Rodriguez (Burnley).

Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Barnes replaces Wout Weghorst.

Attempt missed. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right.

Attempt blocked. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

Substitution, Manchester City. Bernardo Silva replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by James Tarkowski (Burnley).

Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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