Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling struck to guide Manchester City into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup while a Michy Batshuayi brace inspired Chelsea to victory over Newcastle United.
With the fourth round of the world’s original cup competition done and dusted, barring four replays set to take place next month, we’ve taken a look at five talking points from Sunday’s action.
City march on
When the Emirates FA Cup fifth round draw is made live on the One Show on Monday evening, Premier League leaders Manchester City will arguably be the most feared name left in the competition.
Pep Guardiola’s troops have continue to blossom on all fronts and once again overcame a tricky trip to Championship Cardiff in the fourth round, ensuring there was barely a hint of a slip-up in the Welsh capital.
Two first-half goals from De Bruyne and England winger Sterling effectively ensured that Guardiola’s men had control of the tie in the vice-grip throughout.
De Bruyne shows off another weapon to his armoury
Supporters country-wide are already more than familiar with the exhaustive talents of Manchester City’s ingenious Belgian midfielder De Bruyne.
However, the 26-year-old showed that he can be cheeky as well as classy with an impudent finish to put the visitors in front with eight minutes on the clock.
From a free-kick just outside the Cardiff area, De Bruyne chose to go under the wall, rather than over it, and the formation of blue shirts, and their goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, could only look on bemused as the Citizens’ talisman gave his team the lead in unorthodox fashion.
Bennett oversteps the mark
One of the game’s major talking points arrived when Cardiff full-back Bennett caught winger Leroy Sane with a stray boot as the German raced away in first-half stoppage time.
Referee Lee Mason handed the 27-year-old a booking for his troubles, rather than reaching for a red card, but the former Aston Villa man would eventually head for an early bath.
Indeed, Bennett was sent off in the second minute of added time at the end of the game, being cautioned for a second time for chopping down substitute Brahim Diaz.
Did someone call for the Bat man?
Batshuayi is proving a dab hand at bagging Emirates FA Cup goals for Chelsea this term, with the Belgian striker scoring a brace in the Blues’ 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old, who was on-target in Chelsea’s third-round clash with Norwich City, struck twice to help provide safe passage for Antonio Conte’s men.
With Alvaro Morata injured, Batshuayi led the line for the hosts and, after being given the freedom of the Newcastle box, tapped from a Marcos Alonso pass before later seeing a strike loop into the net off a despairing Jamaal Lascelles, becoming the third Chelsea player to reach double figures in front of goal this term.
Marcos makes his mark
Blues full-back Marcos Alonso offers plenty going forward and, with a goal and an assist against the Magpies, the Spanish star became the first Premier League defender to be involved in 10 or more goals in all competitions.
First, he teed up Batshuayi for the opening goal 31 minutes in and then showed off his proficiency from set-piece situations as he stroked home an unstoppable free-kick, which gave Newcastle goalie Karl Darlow no chance.
