Soccer:A brace of goals from Yaya Toure and a penalty from Mario Balotelli saw Manchester City romp to a 3-0 victory over Villareal in the El Madrigal stadium in Spain. It was an emphatic win against a listless home side who only fitfully mustered any real resistance.

Toure struck on the half-hour after a perfect pass from David Silva before Balotelli doubled the lead from the penalty spot in first half injury time. The Italian, making his first appearance in the competition this season, had himself been the man fouled by Mateo Musacchio.

Toure’s second confirmed what had been apparent before the interval as City were rarely troubled in matching their best ever away result in Europe.

Manager Roberto Mancini had retained just six of the starting line-up from the weekend win over Wolves with Joleon Lescott left out and James Milner and Nigel de Jong among those coming in.

While City have been imperious in the Premier League, their performances in Europe this season have been patchy and they again seemed to start nervously. Villarreal were determined to give the visitors as little time in possession as possible and pressed City into an early mistake.

Jonathan de Guzman seized the ball in midfield and fed Hernan Perez but his long range shot was easily claimed by Joe Hart. It was a positive start by the injury-ravaged Spaniards, whose form in their own domestic competition has been poor.

City did manage to get hold of possession for good spells but it soon became apparent they would have to be patient against the resilient hosts. It was not until the 20th minute they seriously threatened when Samir Nasri fired wide.

The home supporters were incensed as City were allowed to build an attack while a Villarreal player was off the field and they whistled even louder as David Silva won a free-kick outside the box.

After some arguments and bookings for Wakaso Mubarak and Balotelli, Silva stepped up to take the set-piece and curled into the wall. Yet Silva remained the danger man and stole possession to set up the opening goal for Yaya Toure on the half-hour.

The dynamic Ivorian raced through as Silva slid a perfect pass into the box and opened his body to side-foot past Diego Lopez with cool precision. Villarreal tried to respond but De Guzman horribly sliced a shot into the crowd from a promising position.

Nasri had a similar opportunity at the other end but failed to make a clean connection and Lopez was not troubled. De Guzman hit another shot with greater accuracy but it was straight at Joe Hart.

City doubled their lead from the penalty spot in time added on at the end of the first half after Mateo Musacchio was adjudged to have clipped the heals of Balotelli. Villarreal protested but Balotelli held his nerve and placed a shot into the bottom corner after stuttering in his run-up.

Mancini returned for the second half with an ice pack on his head after banging it on the roof of the dugout earlier. There remained little wrong with his team as City carried their dominance into

the second half, Silva wining another free-kick in dangerous territory after a menacing run but Balotelli’s shot was deflected wide.

Villarreal had little to offer and a tame shot from former West Brom midfielder Borja Valero was deflected and easily gathered by Hart.

Silva, who had caused the hosts numerous problems, was withdrawn by Mancini midway through the second half to a generous ovation from all sides of the ground. However, the former Valencia man was holding his back as he left the field, suggesting a possible injury.

Villarreal:D Lopez, Rodriguez, Musacchio, Marchena, Gaspar, Catala, De Guzman, Perez, Mubarak, Valero, Joselu. Subs: Sanchez, Oriol, A Lopez, Tomas, Gullon, Fofo, Bordas.

Man City:Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Savic, Clichy, Y Toure, De Jong, Milner, Nasri, Silva, Balotelli. Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Kolarov, Johnson, Barry, Dzeko, Aguero.