Rodri is backing up his pre-season promise to Man City with another goal

If Manchester City were at full-strength, their midfield would consist of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and probably Mateo Kovacic, or maybe Bernardo Silva. Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world, so is quite happy to let his more attacking teammates take on the creative mantel. Without De Bruyne or Kovacic, however, and Bernardo needed out right with Jack Grealish out, Rodri is having to play multiple roles in one at the start of the season.

He opened the campaign with a goal and assist at Burnley, before setting up Cole Palmer in the Super Cup, and he scored the winner against Sheffield United. With Matheus Nunes next to him against Red Star, Rodri found himself in more attacking positions as City camped out in the opposition half. Keen to score City's first goal as European champions, Rodri had a number of blocked or saved efforts, as well as trying to turn provider with runs to the byline. When he eventually got his goal, it was a lovely finessed finish to put daylight between the teams.

Rodri's role presumably won't stay as an auxiliary attacking midfielder, although he did express a desire to score more goals at the start of the season after scoring the biggest one in City's history in June. Going off his showing on Tuesday, he is clearly keen to put his money where his mouth is in that regard, as well as helping to offset the creative losses in midfield.

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Pep Guardiola handed Matheus Nunes his full City debut and told him to 'be himself.' Guardiola added that Nunes was given a brief that was similar to his former role at Wolves, saying: "In the end we ask of him