Matheus Nunes' first Manchester City goal proved the difference as Pep Guardiola's team beat Watford 2-1 to progress to the EFL Cup fourth round.
2024/2025 League Cup
2-1
Match Report
Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes net as Pep Guardiola's side advance to Carabao Cup fourth round.
Tom Ince set up a nervy ending for the hosts at the Etihad Stadium, but Championship side Watford could not find a late equaliser to force a penalty shootout.
City got off to a quick start, helped by Ryan Porteous' loose backpass, as James McAtee pounced before Jack Grealish teed up Jeremy Doku for a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner after five minutes.
Kwadwo Baah thought he had equalised in the 21st minute, drilling his low shot into the far post, but he was penalised for a foul on debutant Kaden Braithwaite.
Rico Lewis then opened up Watford's defence with a driving run before laying it off to Nunes, whose low effort crept past Jonathan Bond to double City's lead before the break.
Ince cleared Savinho's effort off the line before the Brazilian also struck the inside of the post as City searched for a second, while Bond made impressive stops to deny Nunes and Grealish.
Yet it was Watford who struck next - Ince bending a lovely finish beyond Stefan Ortega, but the visitors failed to test City again after that.
Data Debrief: No end to the City hoodoo for Watford
It has been a while since these two sides last met following Watford's relegation from the Premier League, but City always enjoy facing them.
They have now won each of their last 16 matches against Watford in all competitions by an aggregate score of 60-9, while they have also been responsible for the Hornets' last seven domestic cup exits.
It was another dominant performance for the hosts, who had 24 shots overall, getting eight of those on target as they created an expected goals of 1.98 compared to Watford's 0.46.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Jérémy Doku opens the scoring just in 5 minutes! Man City 1-0 Watford
8' Attempt missed! James McAtee right footed shot in the box wide out
12' Matheus Nunes' long shot outside the box is saved
16' Foden's shot outside the box misses to the left
22' Watford's goal disallowed due to foul
27' Foden's long pass blocked by the keeper
33' Foden's free kick blocked by defenders
38' Nunes finishes brilliantly after neat work from Lewis! Man City 2-0 Watford
45' CLOSE! Watford's header wide out
46' Savinho on, Doku off
49' Foden's left footed shot wide out
57' Attempt blocked! Foden's shot in the box stopped by defender
64' CLOSE! City's attempts blocked by defenders & keepers and wide out eventually
70' Foden's long shot saved by the keeper
71' Savinho strikes the post following an incredible solo run!
73' City's long shot outside the box wide out
76' Kaden Braithwaite has gone down with cramp
80' Attempt blocked! Savinho's left footed shot wide out
82' Grealish's right footed shot saved by the keeper
86' GOAL! Man City 2-1 Watford (Tom Ince)
Line-ups
Man City XI: Walker, Stefan Ortega, Stones, Grealish, Foden, Matheus Nunes, Jérémy Doku, James McAtee, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Kaden Braithwaite
Subs: Gundogan, Kovacic, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho, Jacob Wright
Watford XI: Ogbonna, Jonathan Bond, Ince, Ken Sema, Vakoun Bayo, Ryan Porteous, I. Louza, Larouci, Festy Ebosele, Kwadwo Baah, James Morris
Subs: Giorgi Chakvetadze, Dele-Bashiru, Mattie Pollock, Pierre Dwomoh, Antonio Tikvic, Rocco Vata, M. Adu-Poku, Mamadou Doumbia, Alfie Marriott