The teams emerged from the tunnel once more as the floodlights bathed The Hawthorns in crisp white light. The scoreboard stood cold and undeniable: West Brom 0 – 3 Manchester City. City's players looked composed, focused—hungry. The traveling fans, packed tightly behind the away goal, were still buzzing from the electric first half, scarves aloft and chants of "City! City!" echoing beneath the night sky.
As the whistle blew, West Brom tried to show some bite. They pushed higher, chasing the ball more aggressively, with James Morrison and Gardner snapping into tackles. But the response from City was calm, calculated.
"City are so composed under pressure," Alan Smith observed from the gantry. "It's like they're playing with time itself. You can't fluster them."
Adriano dropped deep to collect, always available, always scanning. His movement created space for Silva and De Bruyne to weave their patterns. Each touch was slick, each pass measured. The ball moved with purpose, from Kimmich to Silva, from Silva to Adriano, then out wide to Hazard. West Brom chased shadows.
Then, in the 54th minute, brilliance erupted again.
A hopeful clearance from West Brom dropped awkwardly near the halfway line. Kevin De Bruyne, with velvet control, brought it down on his thigh and cushioned it forward. Adriano, already anticipating, stepped into the pocket of space.
"He sees everything before it happens," Martin Tyler noted as the camera panned to Adriano, already glancing over his shoulder.
Gardner charged at him—but Adriano let the ball roll across his body, baiting the tackle. Then came the spin.
"Marseille turn!" Alan Smith exclaimed, as Adriano twirled away effortlessly, Gardner left stumbling behind.
Accelerating forward, Adriano darted at the retreating Olsson. A feint inside, then a burst outside. Olsson bit the wrong way. The teenager sliced through like a blade through cloth, entering the box with poised fury.
"Adriano… still going… still Adriano…" Martin Tyler's voice rose as the crowd braced themselves.
Myhill rushed out, legs wide, arms low. Adriano didn't blink. With the outside of his left boot, he lifted the ball in a delicate arc, slow-motion in real time. It floated over Myhill's shoulder, kissed the far post, and dropped into the back of the net.
GOOOOOAAALLLLLLL! Adriano makes it 4-0 !
Martin Tyler erupted. "OH THAT IS SUBLIME! ADRIANO RIVEIRO AGAIN! That's majestic! That's magic!"
The away end detonated. Shirts swung overhead. Smoke flares popped. "AR10! AR10!" they chanted in booming unison.
Adriano stood tall, arms spread wide, backpedaling toward the touchline. He turned slowly, raised one hand and pointed to the back of his shirt—Number 10 gleaming beneath the stitched golden crown.
No arrogance. Just truth.
De Bruyne sprinted to him, laughing, wrapping an arm around his neck. Silva wasn't far behind, grinning ear to ear as he tousled the young playmaker's hair. Kompany came thudding up next, clapping Adriano on the back with both hands.
Alan Smith was stunned. "You can't teach that. You either have it or you don't—and this lad, at nineteen, has it in abundance."
At 4–0, West Brom's shape began to unravel. Passes went astray. Shoulders slumped. The home crowd murmured in frustration while Pellegrini saw the opportunity to rotate. In the 60th minute, David Silva left the pitch to warm applause from City fans, replaced by Alexis Mac Allister. Eden Hazard followed, giving way for Marcus Rashford, making his Premier League debut.
The young Mancunian jogged on with wide eyes, drinking in the noise.
From the restart, the energy shifted. Rashford pressed immediately, harrying Dawson into a mistake near the corner flag. He nearly stole possession, and the away fans roared their approval. Mac Allister, meanwhile, looked bright and tidy, his first few touches sharp and efficient.
In the 67th minute, a chance fell City's way again. Adriano, always lurking between the lines, took a short pass from Mac Allister and, with a disguised reverse ball, slipped Harry Kane through on goal. Kane hit it low, first-time—deflected just wide.
"A whisker away!" Tyler shouted, as the City bench rose in unison.
From the corner, De Bruyne curled it in deep. Hummels rose highest, met it with his forehead, but the ball skimmed inches over the bar. The West Brom defense looked ragged.
Then, the final dagger.
75th minute.
Mac Allister, drifting in from the left, linked with Rashford on the wing. A quick one-two saw Mac Allister surge into space. He didn't hesitate—his cutback was low and hard, drilled toward the top of the box.
There stood Adriano.
He let it roll across his body, used his left to bring it under control, then shimmied past Yacob with a neat sidestep. His right foot followed through in one clean arc, curling the ball low toward the far post.
Myhill stretched. The net rippled.
GOAAAAALLLLL!
"HAT TRICK!" Martin Tyler shouted. "ANOTHER PREMIER LEAGUE HAT TRICK FOR ADRIANO RIVEIRO! THIS KID IS WRITING HISTORY!"
The fans behind the goal leapt again, delirious. Flags waved. People jumped onto each other's backs. Adriano raised three fingers, then turned to Mac Allister, pointing to the Argentine with a grin, before ruffling his hair.
The joy on Mac Allister's face said it all—disbelief and pride. Rashford joined in, jumping onto Adriano's back and slapping his shoulders.
Alan Smith laughed softly. "That's the future, Martin. Mac Allister setting it up, Rashford involved, and Adriano delivering the kill… and they're all just kids."
As Adriano walked back toward the centre circle, the cameras caught Myhill shaking his head, then clapping lightly in reluctant admiration.
Even the home crowd could only murmur in appreciation.
5–0.The scoreboard glowed like a wound in the dark.
But for Manchester City and their No. 10, the statement had been made—emphatically.
With the match firmly under control at 5–0, the tempo inside The Hawthorns slowed but never dipped in focus. City had broken West Brom's resolve long ago, yet the standard remained relentless. Pellegrini finally looked to his bench for one last change. In the 78th minute, the fourth official raised the board.
Number 10 flashed in red. Number 21 in green.
A hush swept through the away end, and then all at once, the City fans rose as one. The away section erupted in unified applause as Adriano began his slow, measured walk toward the touchline. Sweat glistened on his forehead, but his posture was calm, composed—like a king returning from battle. The home fans, despite the scoreline, gave a reluctant round of applause too. Even they had witnessed something special tonight.
Adriano lifted both hands and clapped above his head in appreciation, then pointed to the name on the back of his shirt where "ADRIANO",with the crown stitched above the number 10. He gave a small nod to the supporters chanting his name.
Kompany waited at the halfway line with a grin. As Adriano reached the sideline, Dybala jogged on and embraced him quickly, whispering something that made Adriano chuckle tiredly. Kompany patted his shoulder.
Vincent Kompany: "That's how you start a season, champ."
The applause didn't die down for well over a minute.
Even as play resumed, the chants of "AR10! AR10!" rang from the City faithful, echoing through the night air. But the match wasn't over.
City kept pressing, kept moving, even as West Brom tried to find their shape again, visibly hoping the final whistle would come soon. But the substitutes had their own ideas. Dybala looked fresh, lively, and hungry to make a mark.
In the 86th minute, Dybala tracked back to receive the ball near the halfway line. With one quick turn, he bypassed a closing midfielder and surged into space. He took a glance up. Kane was already on the move, darting between defenders.
Martin Tyler's voice rose in anticipation:"He's spotted the run… here's Dybala… slides it through for Kane—"
A perfect, threaded ball split the defense. Kane controlled it with his first touch and unleashed a thunderous low drive with his second, arrowing the ball past Myhill into the bottom left corner.
THUD.The net bulged. The stadium gasped.
Martin Tyler: "Six! And it's Harry Kane to add the icing. Dybala with the assist. This has been a demolition. Manchester City… ruthless, relentless. And Dybala has shown they can also rely on him when needed."
Kane wheeled away, both fists raised in the air, his face a picture of satisfaction. He pointed to Dybala and nodded in appreciation. Dybala grinned, pointing skyward, his work done in minutes.
The players gathered near the corner flag briefly, a short celebration—there was no need for anything dramatic. The scoreboard said it all. City were six up. They had made their statement.
As the referee glanced at his watch, City's bench stood ready. Pellegrini clapped softly. The away fans, still bouncing, had already begun to sing:"Champions again, ole ole… Adriano wears the crown…"
Then, the whistle.
A shrill, final note.
Martin Tyler's voice dropped slightly in pitch, but the weight of the moment remained:"And that… is that. Full-time at The Hawthorns. Manchester City start the 2015-16 Premier League season with a six-nil demolition of West Bromwich Albion."
The camera panned across the pitch—City players exchanging hugs and handshakes, West Brom players trudging toward the tunnel in silence.
Alan Smith leaned in, his tone grounded but impressed."A magical start to the season. A statement win, no doubt. But above all… Adriano Riveiro. Three goals, countless moments of brilliance. The Premier League has been warned."
The away fans kept singing, their voices soaring even as the stadium emptied around them. Adriano stood near the dugout now, towel draped over his shoulders, chatting with De Bruyne and Silva—his two midfield allies—smiling tiredly as if they hadn't just torn apart a top-flight side.
Martin Tyler added with that familiar knowing edge in his voice:"He's not just arrived. He's announced himself, with a crown stitched on his back and a hat trick in his first league match of the season. Last year he scored thirty-seven Premier League goals. Based on tonight… he might just break that."
The camera cut to the scoreboard:West Brom 0 – 6 Manchester City
The message could not have been clearer.City weren't just here to compete. They were here to dominate.
****
The press room at The Hawthorns buzzed with energy. Journalists packed the rows, laptops open, recorders blinking red, the aroma of post-match coffee lingering in the air. After a performance as dominant as Manchester City's 6–0 thrashing of West Brom, anticipation was high. The room quieted as Manuel Pellegrini entered first, flanked by a club staffer. A few flashes from cameras went off. Pellegrini adjusted his jacket and took a seat at the front desk, calm and composed as always.
"Alright, we'll begin," said the press officer. "Questions for the manager."
A hand shot up immediately.
Journalist 1: "Manuel, that was a ruthless performance. What did you make of the team's execution today?"
Pellegrini nodded. "We played with the intensity and fluidity that we've been working on in training. The team kept possession well, pressed as a unit, and transitioned quickly. It's the kind of football we want to build our season on."
Journalist 2: "Adriano got a hat trick tonight. At nineteen years old, what more can you say about him?"
Pellegrini smiled briefly. "Adriano continues to amaze, but not just with goals. His intelligence, his work rate, how he links play with Silva and De Bruyne—he's maturing fast. We always knew he was a special talent. Tonight, he showed again why he's one of the most important players in world football."
Journalist 3: "Was the plan always to take him off after the third goal?"
"We wanted to manage minutes. The match was settled by then, and we have a long season ahead. But yes, after the third goal, it was a good moment to bring in fresh legs and let the fans show their appreciation."
Journalist 4: "Speaking of fresh legs—Rashford, Mac Allister, Dybala all contributed well off the bench. What's your view on the depth of your young squad?"
"I'm very pleased. Alexis came on and gave us a new tempo. His assist for Adriano's third goal was excellent. Rashford gave us pace down the flank. Dybala, you saw what he did—composed, precise, a brilliant assist for Kane. This squad isn't just about one generation. It's a blend."
Journalist 5: "Was tonight a statement to the rest of the league?"
Pellegrini's eyes flickered with restrained pride. "We don't focus on statements. We focus on consistency. But yes, winning 6–0 away from home, with a performance like that—it sets a tone."
The press officer looked around. "Last one for the manager?"
Journalist 6: "Do you believe Adriano can surpass his goal tally from last season?"
Pellegrini leaned in slightly. "If he stays fit, if we keep creating chances—why not? He's never satisfied. That's what sets him apart."
He rose to polite applause, gave a nod to the room, and exited. Moments later, Adriano entered wearing a crisp club hoodie, sleeves rolled up, hair still damp from the post-match shower. A few camera lenses adjusted focus. The teenager sat down, cool and composed, with the faintest grin on his face.
Journalist 1: "Adriano, three goals on opening day. How did that feel?"
Adriano chuckled lightly. "It felt… electric. There's no better feeling than starting strong. The lads made it easy for me. Silva and Kevin—unreal to play with. And Alexis—what a pass."
Journalist 2: "That fourth goal in particular… the dribble, the flick over the keeper. Talk us through it."
Adriano nodded slowly. "I saw the space open. One defender stepped in too early, so I turned him with a Marseille. Then it was instinct. The keeper came out hard, so I just lifted it early. Thankfully, it went in clean."
Journalist 3: "You pointed to your name after that goal—what message were you sending?"
A faint grin crept onto Adriano's face. "I don't need to send messages. The football speaks. But it's been a long summer, people talking about other players, new transfers. I just wanted to remind them that I'm still here. And still hungry."
Journalist 4: "There's a lot of excitement about City's young core. What's it like playing alongside guys like Mac Allister and Rashford?"
Adriano beamed at that. "They're top lads. No fear. Alexis gave me a perfect assist, Rashy was tearing down the flank like he always does. We push each other. This generation—we want to make our own mark."
Journalist 5: "You've won titles already. What's driving you this season?"
Adriano's gaze narrowed slightly, more serious now. "Records are good. Titles are better. But legacy—that's what I'm chasing now. I want us to be remembered as one of the greatest sides ever."
The press officer glanced at his sheet. "Last question."
A familiar voice in the room raised the final one.
Journalist 6: "Adriano, a dream start for you. What is your personal target for this season?"
The room fell into a still hush, all eyes on the number ten. Adriano looked up, his expression calm, but voice clear and unwavering.
He smiled, then replied confidently,"We'll chase every trophy, surpass our past records, and give our fans a season they will never forget."
With that, he rose from his seat. Cameras clicked rapidly. A few journalists exchanged nods. It wasn't just the goals. It was the presence. At nineteen, Adriano Riveiro already spoke like a leader.
As he walked out, the crown above his name on the hoodie caught the light again.
This wasn't just the start of a new season.It was the beginning of a campaign that promised greatness.
****
As the dust settled on Manchester City's stunning opening day demolition job at The Hawthorns, the online world exploded into a frenzy. Fans, neutrals, pundits, and even rival supporters couldn't help but react to the show put on by AR10 and the sky-blue machine.
@CityBlues4Life:
I don't care if it's only the first game — ADRIANO RIVEIRO IS HIM. 🐐 Hat trick, balling out like he never left. This man's different. That Marseille turn + chip? Bro. It's art. 🎨⚽️ #AR10 #MCFC
@PL_Tactico:
De Bruyne, Silva and Adriano are pure rhythm and telepathy in midfield. That 4th goal was like something from FIFA Street and a Pep Guardiola fever dream combined. #MCFC #PremierLeague
@NeutralNed:
As a Spurs fan I'm not even mad. That was breathtaking football. Adriano is already levels above. City have Dybala, Rashford, Mac Allister on the bench. Title favourites, easy. #EPL #City
@WBA_BitterEnd:
We just got violated 😭😭😭 I ain't even mad at Adriano, that boy different. But 6 at home? In front of my nan? Disrespectful.
@SkySportsFanForum:
Can we talk about Pellegrini's substitutions tho? Hazard out, Rashford in. Silva out, Mac Allister in. Then Adriano walks off to a standing ovation, and Dybala-Kane link up for the 6th. It's scary how deep City are this year. #squaddepth
@AR10FanPage:
Adriano celebrating that chip goal by pointing at the crown on his jersey... man knows he's royalty now. 🫅🔥 #AR10 #CrownOnHisBack
@YayaToureReincarnated:
Kevin De Bruyne with 2 assists, Silva with full control, Adriano with 3 goals. West Brom couldn't breathe. Mac Allister and Dybala came on and just made it worse. The youth are hungry, bro. #ManCity
@TheBlueEmpire:
Real talk — has there ever been a better midfield trio in the Prem than Silva-KDB-Adriano? And now they're adding firepower like Mac Allister and Dybala from the bench. Title loading… #MCFC #Dynasty
@WhoScored:
Adriano Riveiro vs West Brom:
🎯 3 Goals
🎩 2 Key Passes
🕺 6 Dribbles
😤 Countless ruined careersLet the Premier League suffer. #AR10
@ArsenalFanTVUnfiltered:
Every time I think City might slow down, they come back stronger. Adriano looks like he's on revenge mode this year. What's Arteta supposed to do against that?! 😩
@BRFootball:
19-year-old Adriano Riveiro kicks off the 2015–16 season with a hat trick. He's chasing history — and looking completely unplayable. This is going to be special. #AR10 #PremierLeague
@TalkFCB:
I watched that game for research… now I'm traumatised. 😭 Adriano out there like he's possessed by Ronaldinho, Iniesta and Thierry Henry all at once. That's illegal.
@FootyBanters:
Adriano: puts 3 past West Brom with sauceRival fans: "It's only West Brom."Mate, you try stopping a Marseille turn and cheeky chip while Silva & KDB are doing rondos behind you. 😂😂😂 #AR10
YouTube compilations of the match highlights and Adriano's individual performance began circulating within an hour. The most viral one? Titled: "AR10: The Prince Has Returned – Hat Trick Masterclass vs WBA (HD)", already pushing 300K views in less than 3 hours.
On Instagram, Adriano posted a photo of him mid-celebration, arms outstretched beneath the crown stitched above his name. The caption read simply:
"We move. 👑⚽️ #AR10 #HungerNeverStops"
That post alone crossed a million likes before the night ended.
Football Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and fan forums were aligned in their verdict — City were not just here to play. They were here to dominate. And Adriano Riveiro? He wasn't just a wonderkid anymore. He was leading the charge, crown shining and goals flowing.
The message was loud and clear:The King is back — and he wants everything.
*****
Adriano's Stats 2015-16 Season
Premier League
Match: 1
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Community Shield
Match: 1
Goals : 2
Assists: 2
Euro Qualifiers
Match: 4
Goals: 6
Assist: 2