Manchester City hit nine in Carabao Cup demolition of League One Burton

Manchester City scored nine goals without reply, four from Gabriel Jesus, as League One Burton were swept aside 9-0 in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola's side took total control before half-time, going in at the break 4-0 in front, and added another five in the second half with Burton helpless to stem the attacking tide.

The visitors, many of whose supporters were delayed by traffic problems outside Manchester, had the first shot in the opening minute but Lucas Akins' scuffed 20-yarder posed no problem for Arijanet Muric.

Kevin De Bruyne was soon into the action, conjuring a lofted pass that looked to have put Riyad Mahrez through only for the former Leicester star to miscontrol.

But after Oleksandr Zinchenko fired wide from distance City took the lead after five minutes, De Bruyne heading in David Silva's cross after the visiting defence failed to track his run.

De Bruyne almost found Leroy Sane through the middle but Burton keeper Brad Collins was quickly off his line, and Silva's attempted chip was deflected behind.

But the visitors should have been level after 12 minutes when Akins' low cross found its way to the unmarked Marcus Harness at the far post only for him to rush his finish and lift the ball over.

Sane hit the side netting as City went back onto the attack, but the excellent Akins was soon on the counter for Burton, getting down the left to win a corner.

Visiting midfielder Jamie Allen fired high over with Nigel Clough's side continuing a positive approach, but they almost found themselves two down when Silva's low cross was scrambled away.

Jesus sent a low strike wide of the far post but with half an hour played City had a second, Sane's effort blocked by the goalkeeper and looping up for Jesus to head home.

Four minutes later the ball was played to Silva and, with Burton appealing in vain for offside, he squared for Jesus to fire in off the post, VAR confirming the validity of the goal.

Before the break it was 4-0, a third goal in seven minutes sparking songs about Wembley in the home stands as Zinchenko's mis-hit cross flew in.

Mahrez had a shot tipped over by Collins after chaos inside the Burton area before a VAR check for a penalty when Jesus went down under Ben Turner's challenge ruled out a spot-kick.

Sane was almost through at the start of the second half only for his touch to let him down, but Burton showed they had not given up as Scott Fraser shot over following more good work from Akins.

But City made it five after 57 minutes when Jesus headed in to complete a hat trick after Silva and Mahrez combined to set him up.

City brought on Phil Foden for De Bruyne, and Foden made it six soon after the hour when he tapped home after Jesus had been denied by a good save.

Moments later, Silva scooped over when he should have scored, but after 65 minutes it was 7-0 as Sane crossed from the left and Jesus flicked home.

Sane came off to be replaced by Bernardo Silva, Burton making a double change as Allen was replaced by Ben Fox and Liam Boyce by David Templeton, and with 20 minutes to go it was 8-0 as Mahrez found defender Kyle Walker waiting in the middle to convert.

Walker was next to go off for City, Danilo coming on in his place, with Burton's Fraser making way for Joe Sbarro as the visitors made another change.

Mahrez made it nine inside the final 10 minutes, prodding home at the second attempt, but the huge scale of the defeat was not enough to prevent Burton's fans continuing to sing for their beleaguered players.