Five reasons why Manchester City’s sensational start to season is actually down to luck

MANCHESTER CITY have started this season like a train under Pep Guardiola.

They overcame a potentially difficult Champions League tie against Steaua Bucharest by winning 5-0 in Romania — before winning all of their first six games in the Premier League.

On top of that, they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 and overcame Swansea to reach the fourth round of the League Cup.

But is it all quality or is there an element of luck involved?

SunSport takes a look at why City have got a tad lucky so far.

Paddy McNair’s own goal

OF COURSE, it’s easy to take a look back and see the number six in City’s win column and talk about how they’ve won every game.

But their 100 per cent record was almost over before it had even begun.

City’s first goal of the season came from the penalty spot — a regular avenue to goals for Guardiola’s men this season — after just four minutes of their opener.

But they weren’t as dominant as you would expect and were pegged back by Jermain Defoe on 71 minutes.

The game looked to be petering out to a draw — but former Manchester United star, Paddy McNair, was on hand to chest the ball into the back of his own net with just three minutes remaining.

Just one point after taking the lead in Guardiola’s first Premier League match could have given things a whole new perspective.

Watch ALL the goals from the Premier League before anyone else for FREE plus all the latest news, fixtures and results and live match commentary all on the go with the new Sun Football App –

Claudio Bravo sees red but avoids card

HE STRUGGLED on his debut — and was badly caught out for United’s goal, which came just before the break.

The Red Devils were a different outfit after half-time. Marcus Rashford injected a bit of pace and even had a goal — rightly — disallowed for offside.

But the game could easily have changed following a challenge by Bravo on Wayne Rooney.

The England captain was first to the ball and was wiped out by the Chilean.

It was a shocking miss by the referee which should have resulted in a penalty and red card for Bravo.

That’s a debut sending off and three games out with Willy Caballero and Angus Gunn as goalkeepers available.

Penalty vs Swansea

CITY were far from their swashbuckling best as they visited a ground which has generally been unkind to them.

After taking an early lead, Swansea pulled one back through Fernando Llorente and were more than worth the parity.

However, they were given their regular route back into the game after Kevin De Bruyne went down following a clash with Mike van der Hoorn.

Maybe it was the Dutch-Belgian rivalry, but the City ace fell over at the slightest touch to his face.

After being awarded the penalty, De Bruyne seemed almost embarrassed, desperately rubbing his cheek in hope of enhancing — or outright creating — a mark.

Sergio Aguero stepped up a put it away with style, to his credit.

Tottenham at their worst

YOU can only beat what’s in front of you.

But when what is in front of you is severely weakened, it certainly helps.

City face a tricky-looking trip to White Hart Lane next weekend — but Spurs will be without star attacker, Harry Kane, who scored home and away against the Citizens last season.

And Guardiola’s men face a midweek trip to Celtic in the Champions League, while Mauricio Pochettino and Co. will be returning from Russia, where they face CSKA Moscow.

Lionel Messi-less Barcelona

AND it gets better still for Guardiola.

Messi has scored three times against City — and destroyed his former boss with two stunning strikes when Barcelona battered beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the Champions League semi-finals.

Yet, he will miss the fixture between the two at the Nou Camp on October 19.

His absence could seriously aid the two-time Premier League champions’ cause in achieving a morale-boosting win over a European heavyweight.

And once City have overcome that mental hurdle, what is stopping them from becoming one of the best sides on the continent?