Salzburg player ratings

Hart A fairly quiet evening in terms of shot stopping. Red Bulls did pose an aerial threat, and while he miscued one punch he was generally firm underneath it. 6

Zabaleta Always nice to see my favourite player involved. He played fairly well, giving us important width outside Yaya, and always keen to be involved in the final third. Put in a decent cross or two. Could have been booked for a late tackle. Moved to left back later on. 6

Kolo Touré Another competent game,warning off problems when they threatened to emerge. Sound under balls into the box. 7

Kompany Smooth and powerful, again. He had to make some crucial interventions on the edge of the box, and he did so perfectly. 7

Bridge His first start of the season, he gave some much needed natural width down the left. Joleon Lescott tries hard but he's so diffident with his running and crossing; Bridge was refreshingly cavalier. His low cross to Jô led to Silva's goal, and there was another good near post delivery later on. A competent return. 6

de Jong His best game of the season so far. He commanded the space in front of our back four, winning every tackle, closing down space and moving the ball to our more imaginative midfielders with no fuss or pause. Would get an '8' but gets a point knocked off for a nasty two-footed jump tackle. 7

Yaya Touré Fairly quiet. Made some physical interventions when needed but didn't impose himself on the game in the manner that he can. 6

Barry An energetic return to the side, he ably broke into the box when necessary, as well as covering defensively centrally or down the left. His versatility makes him well-suited to that role on a corner of a diamond. 7

Silva His best game for City. He was trusted with a start in his preferred position - on the tip of the diamond - but he drifted deep into midfield or into the right channel at will. His intelligence and ability marks him out as a footballer from a different category, tonight more than ever. Scored his first goal for City, breaking through the middle, and ought to have had a second. 8

Tévez Energetic, without quite finding the ruthless edge of last season. He caused problems, dropping, turning and running at the defence, and it was his vicious shot that led to our second goal. The goals will come in time. 7

Jô His first goal in almost exactly two years (since 21 September 2008), it marks a remarkable transformation in his career. Mancini tried to redeem the City career of Benjani - but to do so with Jô would be a whole new achievement. His goal was well-executed, to be fair, as was his lay-off to Silva in the first half. Those two moments aside, the ball just bounced off him. 6

Subs:

Boyata Had a decent run at right-back. Good physicality but he's not Maicon yet. 6

Vieira Kept things ticking over in the middle. n/a

SWP Too late to mark n/a