SERGIO AGUERO hit a hat trick after failing to score from two early penalties as Manchester City thrashed Steaua Bucharest 5-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff Tuesday, virtually assuring a sixth straight season in the group stage.

On a night when City’s movement and passing bewildered its Romanian opponent and showed new coach Pep Guardiola’s methods are already taking effect, Aguero had one spot kick saved and saw another clip the top of the bar either side of David Silva’s 13th-minute opening goal.

Aguero sidefooted home from the edge of the area in the 41st, Nolito scored his first City goal, before Aguero added two more in the final 12 minutes in the Romanian capital.

“The result was amazing,” Guardiola said, “but the way we played, I am really satisfied.”

In other first leg matches, Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Young Boys 3-1 away and Andrija Pavlovic’s first-half goal earned Copenhagen a 1-0 win over APOEL. Ajax and Rostov drew 1-1, and Dinamo Zagreb drew 1-1 with Salzburg.

The second legs take place next week — and City’s return match against Steaua should be nothing more than a formality.

(SD-Agencies)