Manchester City defeated Chelsea 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium to progress through to the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup.

Second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez were enough for Pep Guardiola's side to secure a deserved victory but they had to rely on second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making two superb saves from teenager Lewis Hall to preserve their two-goal cushion.

On a satisfying night for the City supporters - who welcomed Raheem Sterling back to the stadium as a Chelsea substitute - it was another player coming on who received the bigger ovation as Kalvin Phillips featured for the first time since September on the eve of the England World Cup squad announcement.

Both managers made seven changes from the weekend but the circumstances felt rather different. It is now two wins in seven for Chelsea under Graham Potter. They will be looking to regroup during the break. Manchester City march on in all competitions.

Ortega and Grealish star for Man City

There are bigger priorities for these two teams right now - and that is before considering the fact that many of these players have a World Cup around the corner - but Jack Grealish was in the mood to entertain from the start, running at the Chelsea defence with real purpose.

The problem for Manchester City was that Chelsea's deep defence managed to restrict them to longer-range strikes in the first half. Ilkay Gundogan curled a free-kick just over the bar and Grealish had a shot saved by Edouard Mendy. It was Chelsea who had the best chance before the break.

Playing largely on the counter-attack, it fell to Hall after the young wing-back did superbly to engineer the space for himself inside the City box. He found the target with his shot but also found the outstretched right foot of goalkeeper Ortega. It was a warning for City.

They heeded it by upping the tempo after the interval with Grealish again to the fore. The opener came after a period of play in which he tested Mendy to the limit. The goalkeeper was up to those challenges, saving to his left and right, but was motionless as Mahrez's free-kick passed him.

Soon after, the game was all but over. Alvarez played a sweeping pass out to Mahrez on the right and though Mendy was able to parry his low shot, the Argentinian, perpetual motion in that roving striker role, had continued his run and was able to tuck the ball into the vacant net.

There was time left but Chelsea just could not find a way past Ortega. This was only the third appearance for the club by the German goalkeeper since signing in the summer but he is already a crowd favourite. He saved brilliantly from Hall again late on and was rightly named player of the match.

What's next?

Manchester City are back at the Etihad Stadium for their final fixture before the World Cup when they host Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea wrap up their final Premier League commitments before their Christmas return when they make the long trip to Newcastle United for Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.

Teams

Manchester City Moreno, Lewis, Dias, Laporte (Ake 81), Gomez, Rodri (Phillips 50), Gundogan (c) (Silva 50), Palmer, Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez
Subs Not Used Ederson, Stones, Haaland, De Bruyne, Akanji, Foden
Booked Grealish
Goals Mahrez 53, Alvarez 58

Chelsea Mendy, Chalobah (Azpilicueta 69), Koulibaly, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria (Gallagher 68), Kovacic (c), Hall (Havertz 75), Ziyech (Sterling 68), Broja (Mount 68), Pulisic
Subs Not Used Bettinelli, Silva, Hutchinson, Aubameyang
Booked Koulibaly, Chalobah, Azpilicueta
Goals

Attendance 35,674

Referee Simon Hooper