If you needed clarification as to where a healthy Mario Balotelli fits into Roberto Mancini’s plans, consider the manager’s selection for Sunday’s match at the Hawthorns. On the road against an attack-minded team that could take fourth place from them, Mancini put the young Italian into the starting lineup. The choice paid dividends 20 minutes into City’s trip to West Bromwich.
West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Manchester City: Mario Balotelli Brace Puts City Up Early
That's when Balotelli opened his Premier League account, though he needed help from Carlos Tévez and David Silva. The movement started with David Silva putting Tévez behind the line, to the left of Scott Carson's goal. Tévez cut the ball back across the six for a sliding Mario Balotelli, giving the 20-year-old his first league goal.
David Silva was also crucial in City’s next goal, another Balotelli tally that’s put City up two. A twenty yard ball from near midfield found Balotelli running between defenders toward the edge of the box. A moment of chaos left the young striker with the ball on his right foot, allowing Balotelli to finish into the lower-left hand corner of Caron’s goal, putting City up 0-2.
It's been an impressive and scary display from the Italian, whose move to Manchester City has seemed to settle him after the turmoil of his last year in Milan. Reunited with Roberto Mancini, Balotelli may be ready to assume his potential, which (if today's lineup can be seen as a hint) is bad news for James Milner.
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