City are marching towards the quadruple

The second match of the FA Cup quarter-finals between Everton and Manchester City was a tight game that looked nothing like the previous one Ancelotti's team had in the FA Cup when we saw a 5-4 thriller. Final score 0-2 in favour of the sky-blues of Manchester.

Man City looked utterly dominant and it was clear from the get-go that it was going to be all about the set pieces and counter-attacks for Everton. In the 18th minute, Raheem Sterling found some space around 25 yards from goal, and decided to have a go - the shot lacked power, and it went straight to the chest of Virginia.

A minute later the first Everton attack happened. Allan crossed from deep, Godfrey won two headers, it then fell to Richarlison with his back to goal but he hooked an effort over the bar.

The state on the pitch in those opening 25 minutes could be described in this piece of statistic - Everton have made 17 passes while City made 209.

Everton had a chance in the 35th minute - Toffees pressed and it nearly forced an error. Gomes looked to slip in Calvert-Lewin, Steffen came rushing out to clear but didn't get enough on the ball... Luckily one of the City's defenders cleared the ball to make it a corner for Everton.

The hosts were close once again in the 44th minute when Digne took the corner, Mina glanced at the near post, ahead of Fernandinho but Zinchenko was there to head it clear a couple of yards out.

Steffen had more to do during Everton's breakaways, and despite dominating the ball, City have really struggled to break down the stubborn home defence. One of those strange games where you get lulled into thinking City have been all over their opponents but you reach half-time and realise that Everton have had as many chances. A disappointing first half to say the least.

Second half started slow but got better with time. In the 57th minute, a decent opportunity for Richarlison - Mina headed down the long free-kick into the box, it bounced down for Richarlison just inside the box, but his half volley dropped a yard wide of Steffen's right-hand post.

Just a minute later, at the other end, Joao Virginia was forced into action. Fernandinho dove through two Everton challenges brilliantly, cut it back for Sterling to run onto, but he didn't quite catch it well enough... Virginia's fingertip stop deflected the ball into a corner kick for the guests.

In the 66th minute, a well-worked City attack went down the right. 25 yards out, Mahrez found space, but his left-footed effort from range flew inches wide of Virginia's right side-bar.

Passing statistics part 2 - in the 82nd minute City accumulated 508 passes to Everton’s 126.

Phil Foden also tried his skills - his shot from distance was deflected but young Virginia smothered the ball easily. The young goalkeeper had a great performance.

After all those tries, City finally took the lead in the 84th minute. Laporte was in the box and he fired a shot with his weaker right foot, the attempt came back off the crossbar and there was the poacher Ilkay Gundogan to nod the rebound home from close range. It was a fine fingertip stop from Virginia in the first instance but there was nothing he could do to stop Gundogan's header.

City managed to close the game off in the closing minutes of the game. De Bruyne managed to avoid an offside trap and was clean through in the 90th minute. He took the ball on his left foot and defeated the goalkeeper with ease to make it 0-2. Everton were complaining vociferously because they felt there was a high boot from Mahrez in the build-up but he actually withdrew his foot before Mina headed the ball.

Pep Guardiola's team is still successful on all four fronts - Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao League Cup and the Premier League. And they are more than valid competitors for winning all four, given the way they play.

FA CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Saturday

Bournemouth - Southampton 0-3 (0-2)

/Djenepo 37', Redmond 45+1', 59'/

Everton - Manchester City 0-2 (0-0)

/Gundogan 84', De bruyne 90'/

Sunday

16.30: Chelsea - Sheffield United

20.00: Leicester - Manchester United