Rodri curled in a stunning opener against Bayern MunichManchester City took a giant stride towards the Champions League semi-finals with an outstanding performance to overpower Bayern Munich at Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland, inevitably, was on target with his 45th goal of the season to make him the highest scorer in all competitions in a single campaign since the Premier League began 30 years ago, surpassing Mohamed Salah and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
City, however, gave a powerful all-round team display and Bayern, under new coach Thomas Tuchel, face a mountainous task to turn this quarter-final around in the second leg at the AllianzArena.
Rodri broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with a curling left-foot drive into the top corner after 27 minutes while Bayern had chances of their own, especially former City forward Leroy Sane, who brought a vital save out of Ederson early in the second half.
City were always a threat and extended their lead with 20 minutes left, Haaland crossing perfectly for Bernardo Silva to head home after Jack Grealish stole possession off Dayot Upemecano.
Haaland was not to be denied and he pounced for City's third six minutes later, getting on the end of John Stones' headed knockdown to sweep a finish past Bayern keeper Yann Sommer.
Man City deliver complete display
Haaland's record breaking will capture the headlines as the 22-year-old Norwegian's voracious appetite for goals shows no sign of being satisfied.
This, however, was much more than a one-man show as Pep Guardiola's side had outstanding performers in all areas as they go in pursuit of the one major trophy that has remained tantalisingly out of reach during the manager's years of huge success at Etihad Stadium.
City have had mishaps before in the Champions League and will face either holders Real Madrid or Chelsea in a potentially hazardous last-four assignment if they complete what should be the formality of the second leg in Munich, but they look in perfect shape.
And in Haaland, they have the goal machine that gives an already outstanding side an added edge amid the fine margins of Europe's elite competition.
They also have a midfield powerhouse in Rodri, whose goal set them on their way, while they defended with real resilience, Nathan Ake continuing an outstanding season with a faultless performance.
Bernardo Silva showed all his creative powers as well as scoring the crucial second goal while Jack Grealish's tireless performance was exemplified by the manner in which he nicked the ball off Upamecano in the build-up to that goal.
Three goals and clean sheet was a fair reward for City's superiority and it will surely now take something extraordinary to stop them taking their place in another semi-final.
Tuchel faces uphill task
Thomas Tuchel declared his delight at being back in England for this Champions League quarter-final, having recently succeed Julian Naglesmann at Bayern Munich, but there was not much else for the former Chelsea manager to be happy about on this rain-sodden Manchester night.
Tuchel's task is to get Bayern back at Europe's top table and his constant agitation in the technical area was an indicator of how big his task is. The Bundesliga is almost taken for granted at Bayern but this fiercely ambitious club wants more and they were well beaten here.
This outstanding coach has proved his quality in the past but he will need to be a miracle worker to get Bayern out of the hole they fell into at Etihad Stadium.
Player of the match
Bernardo SilvaBernardo Silva
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
31Ederson
6Aké3Rúben Dias25Akanji
8Gündogan17De Bruyne
5Stones16Rodri9Haaland10Grealish
20Bernardo Silva
31Ederson6Aké3Rúben Dias25Akanji8Gündogan17De BruyneSubstituted forÁlvarezat 68'minutes5Stones16Rodri9Haaland10Grealish20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 48minsSubstitutes
2Walker4Phillips14Laporte18Ortega19Álvarez21Gómez26Mahrez32Perrone33Carson80Palmer82LewisBayern Munich
Formation 4-2-3-1
27Sommer
5Pavard2Upamecano4de Ligt19Davies
6Kimmich8Goretzka
11Coman42Musiala10Sané
7Gnabry
27Sommer5PavardBooked at 88mins2Upamecano4de Ligt19DaviesBooked at 49minsSubstituted forCanceloat 81'minutes6Kimmich8Goretzka11Coman42MusialaSubstituted forManéat 69'minutes10Sané7GnabrySubstituted forMüllerat 80'minutesSubstitutes
17Mané20Sarr22Cancelo23Blind25Müller26Ulreich35Schenk38Gravenberch39Tel40Mazraoui44StanisicReferee:Jesús Gil ManzanoAttendance:52,257Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 3, FC Bayern München 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, FC Bayern München 0.
Attempt missed. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.
Benjamin Pavard (FC Bayern München) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Benjamin Pavard (FC Bayern München).
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Yann Sommer.
Attempt saved. Rodri (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Julián Álvarez with a cross.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Dayot Upamecano.
Offside, FC Bayern München. Joshua Kimmich tries a through ball, but Leroy Sané is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
Substitution, FC Bayern München. João Cancelo replaces Alphonso Davies.
Substitution, FC Bayern München. Thomas Müller replaces Serge Gnabry.
Foul by Benjamin Pavard (FC Bayern München).
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Leroy Sané (FC Bayern München) header from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joshua Kimmich.
Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
