Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Nicolas Pepe following Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Villarreal, saying there is a reason Arsenal ‘paid the amount of money’ they did for the winger.

Erling Haaland scored his 15th goal of the season to get City off to a perfect start in Wednesday’s Champions League clash, hammering home Rico Lewis’ low cross to break the deadlock in the 17th minute.

The visitors doubled their advantage shortly before half-time through Bernardo Silva and Lewis was again the provider, finding the midfielder with an exquisite dinked ball from the right flank.

Pepe had a glorious chance to half the deficit in the 77th minute, only to fire his volleyed effort over the crossbar by a distance with a wild swing of his left boot.

Haaland was twice denied by Luiz Junior in the closing stages before Tani Oluwaseyi headed Villarreal’s best opportunity of the group-stage contest against the upright at the death.

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