Manchester City have set the early standard for passing in the Champions League after their dominant win over Marseille.
Pep Guardiola's side won 3-0 at an empty Stade Velodrome with goals from Ferran Torres, Ilkay Gundogan, and Raheem Sterling keeping the Blues three points clear at the top of the group ahead of a double header with Olympiakos.
City's manager was delighted with the victory and the control they enjoyed throughout the match made it one of the most satisfying 90 minutes of the season. The 842 passes that the team attempted, the 765 of those that were completed, and the 91 per cent accuracy that that represents are all the most that any side has managed from the first 24 fixtures, with the second matchday set to be completed on Wednesday.
Three of City's starters were able to beat the team average of passing accuracy.
Rodri managed to complete 95 of his 101 passes to end with 94 per cent, while behind him it was two defenders that achieved the highest marks. Kyle Walker (92 from 94) and Ruben Dias (98 from 100) both scored a whopping 98 per cent to help the Blues earn an impressive victory.
Walker started at Marseille despite having to be substituted against West Ham at the weekend because of exhaustion. Having praised his ability to recover quickly ahead of the game, Guardiola declared afterwards that the former Tottenham defender is currently in the best form of his City career.
