Ayyoub Bouaddi made his mark at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, delivering an assist as Manchester City cruised to a 5–0 victory over Norwich City and booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Moroccan international started in midfield and completed the full 90 minutes, helping Enzo Maresca's side produce a convincing cup performance.
A Decisive Pass for Cherki
City opened the scoring through 17-year-old Floyd Samba, who marked his senior debut with a header in the 29th minute.
Just three minutes later, the Moroccan midfielder played a key role in doubling the advantage. He sent a precise pass through the Norwich defence to release Rayan Cherki, who calmly finished with a low shot beyond goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw.
It was a composed attacking contribution and an early indication of the influence the midfielder could have on the contest.
City Take Control
The home side went into halftime with a comfortable 2–0 lead, but there was more to come after the break.
Allan added the third in the 48th minute, cutting inside from the left before finding the bottom corner with a low effort.
Six minutes later, Samba completed a memorable debut.
The youngster received a pass from fellow Moroccan Rayan Aït-Nouri before curling the ball into the corner to make it 4–0.
A Full 90 Minutes in Midfield
The Moroccan was one of several players brought into the starting XI as Maresca made 10 changes from the side that defeated Manchester United 1–0 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Partnering Mateo Kovačić in midfield, he remained on the pitch for the entire match and contributed both defensively and going forward.
His assist for Cherki provided the standout moment, while his 90-minute involvement underlined the trust placed in him for the cup fixture.
A Night for City's Young Players
The final goal arrived in stoppage time through substitute Ryan McAidoo, completing a dominant 5–0 victory.
It was an especially positive night for City's emerging talent.
Samba scored twice on his senior debut, Allan found the net on his first appearance, McAidoo added another from the bench, while the Moroccan midfielder and Aït-Nouri both contributed directly to the scoring.
Brighton Await in the Next Round
Manchester City's reward is a fourth-round meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium.
The tie is scheduled for the week beginning October 26, with the exact date and kickoff time yet to be confirmed.
For the Moroccan international, another full appearance and a decisive attacking contribution provide further encouragement as he continues to build his place within the squad.
The performance against Norwich adds another positive moment to his growing experience in English football.