Every Manchester City youngster shines as City book Brighton tie

Manchester City cruised past Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, securing a 5‑0 victory that booked them a fourth‑round Carabao Cup tie against Brighton. Every time a young defender steps onto the pitch, he exudes class and composure, and Vitor Reis was no exception as City dominated the Championship side.

Samba’s brace fuels dominant display

Floyd Samba delivered a superb performance up front, netting a brace that underlined City’s attacking firepower. Enzo Maresca, the manager, praised the collective showing of his young and squad players, saying it was the performance he had wanted.

Allan also impressed, showing flashes of quality on both wings in his promising debut, adding width to the side’s play.

Reis’s composure anchors defence

Young centre‑back Vitor Reis was cool and composed throughout, completing 147 of 149 passes and delivering four accurate long balls, limiting Norwich’s threat until the final minutes.

Reis’s passing accuracy helped City dominate possession, with the Brazilian completing 147 of 149 attempts and all four long balls finding a teammate, reinforcing his role as a ball‑playing centre‑back.

After a clumsy opening 25 minutes, City asserted their superiority, walking away with a comfortable margin. The gulf in class between the Premier League hopefuls and the mid‑table Championship side was evident, with Norwich rarely testing the defence.

Physically, Reis held his own against the Championship opposition, showing the maturity needed to succeed in England. Maresca noted that bigger challenges lie ahead, but Reis’s performance suggests he is ready for higher‑quality opponents.

With the win, Manchester City now face Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, a fixture that will provide a sterner test for the young squad members who shone on Thursday.