After the victory over Chelsea, the schedule moved on with the usual intensity. Manchester City were set to face Everton away next.
The air at Goodison Park was electric. Despite being the away side, Manchester City fans were in strong voice. A sea of sky blue shirts filled the away section, singing with confidence and pride after back-to-back dominant victories. Adriano's name was on everyone's lips. AR10 shirts dotted the stands as chants of "Viva Adriano!" rang through before kickoff.
As the whistle blew and the match got underway, the City players settled quickly into the diamond formation Pellegrini had opted for. Casemiro anchored the base, with Silva and De Bruyne flanking him and Adriano at the tip behind Kane and Mbappe. It was a more compact setup, but with lethal creativity and pace.
From the start, Everton looked up for it. Ross Barkley and James McCarthy pressed hard in midfield, trying to break City's rhythm. The first ten minutes saw Everton hustle their way into City's half a couple of times, with Romelu Lukaku testing Hart in the 8th minute with a low shot, but the keeper got down well.
Martin Tyler on commentary:"Everton aren't going to roll over here. They've shown some teeth early on."
Alan Smith added:"City will need to stay sharp. This isn't the kind of ground where you can lose focus."
But then, slowly, City started to impose themselves.
In the 15th minute, a neat one-two between De Bruyne and Silva on the left opened up space, and Silva curled a tempting ball across the six-yard box. Mbappé darted in but missed the tap-in by inches.
Martin Tyler:"Oh, that was begging for a finish!"
Alan Smith:"Mbappé's movement was excellent—he's so close to opening the scoring there."
Everton were hanging on, but City were now growing. In the 22nd minute, it was Adriano who lit the fuse.
It started with a crunching interception by Casemiro near midfield. He slid it to De Bruyne, who quickly offloaded to Adriano in space. Adriano turned, gliding past one defender, then another. At the edge of the box, he delayed—just a fraction—and fed a perfect reverse pass to Kane who timed his run brilliantly.
Kane took a touch and slotted it past Tim Howard with a clean, clinical finish.
Announcer:"GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!! Harry Kane makes it 1-0! But it's the pass from Adriano that carved Everton apart!"
The City fans erupted behind the goal. Kane pointed straight to Adriano before being surrounded by teammates. Adriano jogged over casually and patted Kane on the back, his calm confidence radiating.
Martin Tyler:"That's why he's the King at City. The vision. The weight of pass. Inch-perfect."
Alan Smith:"He's dictating everything from that advanced midfield role. Everton didn't know whether to close him down or cover the run."
The pressure didn't stop. In the 31st minute, a free kick was awarded to City after Silva was fouled by Coleman on the left wing. De Bruyne whipped in a brilliant ball—Van Dijk rose high but headed it just over.
Everton had moments, too. In the 36th minute, Barkley threaded a ball to Lukaku who muscled past Kompany and unleashed a powerful shot. Hart made a fine save, pushing it away for a corner. The home crowd roared, trying to rally their team.
But in the 40th minute, City doubled their lead—and again, Adriano was at the center.
This time, it started with Silva who drove forward, then laid it wide to Mbappé. The young Frenchman used his speed to beat Baines and cut it back toward the top of the box. Adriano arrived at the perfect moment and, without breaking stride, curled a right-footed shot past Howard into the top corner.
Announcer:"GOOOOAAAAALLL!!! ADRIANO RIVEIRO! THE KING STRIKES AGAIN! 2-0 CITY!"
The away end went ballistic. Flags waved. Fans screamed. Some took off their shirts in wild celebration. Chants of "AR-10! AR-10!" echoed loud across Goodison.
Adriano sprinted to the corner flag, doing a small spin and bow before raising both hands to his ears. Kane and Mbappé tackled him in celebration, laughing and shouting as the entire squad joined the huddle.
Martin Tyler:"It's a joy to watch him. He makes it all look so effortless."
Alan Smith:"And it's not just the goals. He's dictating tempo, creating chances, and now scoring screamers. He's in frightening form."
City went into halftime with a dominant 2-0 lead. As the teams walked down the tunnel, Adriano's name continued to echo from the stands.
Second half began with Everton attempting to press higher. But that only played into City's hands.
In the 50th minute, Adriano again pulled the strings. Receiving the ball just past the halfway line, he spotted Casemiro charging forward unmarked and delivered a chipped ball over the top. Casemiro controlled it beautifully on the run and smashed it low past Howard.
Announcer:"GOOOAAAALLLL! Casemiro scores! And it's Adriano again with the assist!"
The third goal quieted the home crowd. Some Everton fans began heading for the exits. City, meanwhile, looked hungry for more.
By the hour mark, Pellegrini made changes—Trent Alexander-Arnold came on for Kimmich, Theo Hernandez for Robertson, and Mac Allister replaced De Bruyne. City played with more freedom but slightly less intensity.
In the 72nd minute, another opportunity came. Mac Allister won the ball and drove forward. He laid it off to Silva who, with vintage elegance, curled a left-footed shot into the far corner from outside the box.
Announcer:"GOOOAALLLL! David Silva adds a fourth for City!"
Martin Tyler:"What a treat for the travelling fans. This has been one-way traffic."
Everton managed a late consolation in the 83rd minute. A long ball found Lukaku who outmuscled Van Dijk and slotted it past Hart. It was 4-1, but it barely registered as more than a formality.
The final whistle blew to a massive cheer from the away supporters. Pellegrini clapped his players from the sideline. Adriano, Kane, and Silva embraced on the pitch. Another complete performance. Three games, three wins. The title charge was well underway.
Adriano waved to the fans as he walked off—calm, smiling, and fully in command.
****
After the win over Everton, City players got a few days of rest before facing Watford at home.
The Etihad buzzed with anticipation as Manchester City returned home to face Watford, riding high on three straight victories. The supporters packed the stands early, with flags waving and chants already echoing throughout the ground. Pellegrini had opted for another tactical shuffle—this time lining up in a bold 3-4-3, looking to attack from all angles.
Starting XI:GK: Joe HartDEF: Hummels, Kompany, Van DijkMID: Casemiro (DM), Silva, De Bruyne, Adriano (AM)ATT: Salah, Aguero, Hazard
From the first whistle, City looked sharp. Watford sat back in a compact shape, but it didn't take long for the home side to find their rhythm. The ball zipped across the turf as City dictated possession.
Martin Tyler's voice rang out over the broadcast:"Manchester City looking fluid again, Alan. It's like watching a team with a dozen ideas all at once."Alan Smith nodded in agreement. "Adriano's positioning is what's catching my eye. He's drifting between the lines and Watford can't pick him up."
In the 8th minute, De Bruyne picked the ball up near the halfway line and chipped a diagonal ball into the right channel. Salah latched onto it with a burst of pace, cut inside and delivered a low cross. Adriano was arriving at the edge of the box—he dummied past one defender, feinted, then let fly with his left foot. The shot was powerful but just wide of the far post, drawing a collective gasp from the home crowd.
Watford tried to push back, winning a corner in the 13th minute, but Kompany and Van Dijk handled the aerial threat with authority. City regained control and continued to apply pressure.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute. It started with a quick turnover—Casemiro intercepted a sloppy pass and quickly released it to Silva, who fed it forward to Adriano. The Portuguese playmaker took one touch, split the defence with a through ball to Aguero, who calmly slotted it past the keeper with his right foot.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLLL! Sergio Aguero puts Manchester City in front! It's 1-0!"
The Etihad erupted. Aguero darted towards the corner flag, arms spread wide, and was quickly mobbed by his teammates. Adriano, grinning, patted him on the back. The chemistry between the two was electric.
Watford tried to respond, but their midfield was overwhelmed. In the 30th minute, Hazard danced past his marker on the left, cut inside and fired a shot, but it was palmed away by the Watford keeper. The rebound fell to Salah, who volleyed it just over the bar.
The second goal came in the 38th minute, and this time it was pure Adriano.
After sustained pressure and a few passes around the box, De Bruyne found Adriano at the edge of the D. With a quick turn and a feint, Adriano beat one man, shifted the ball to his right foot and unleashed a curling shot. It arced beautifully into the top corner.
Announcer: "GOOOAAAALLLLLLL! Adriano 'The King' Riveiro! That's world class! 2-0 to City!"
The fans roared to their feet. Flags waved, scarves swung, and chants for "Adriano!" rippled around the Etihad. He sprinted towards the dugout, slid on his knees and gave a salute. Silva and Kompany lifted him up in celebration, while the cameras caught Aguero pointing to the back of Adriano's shirt with a grin.
Martin Tyler: "He makes it look so easy, but that was sheer brilliance."Alan Smith: "He's turning every match into a personal exhibition."
Just before half-time, Watford found a moment. A counter-attack down the right caught City's backline high. A cross evaded Hummels and was tapped in by the striker. 2-1.
The half-time whistle blew with both teams heading down the tunnel—City confident, Watford clinging to hope.
The second half began with more of the same. City dominated possession and nearly scored again in the 51st minute when Hazard delivered a pinpoint cross from the left. Salah leapt but his header was tipped over.
Then in the 58th minute, it was Van Dijk's turn. Off a corner whipped in by De Bruyne, the Dutchman rose above everyone and thumped a powerful header into the net.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLL! Virgil van Dijk with the thunderous header! 3-1!"
The centre-back was surrounded by his teammates as he pointed to the sky and flexed, drawing huge applause from the stands. Pellegrini applauded from the sideline, visibly pleased.
Watford seemed rattled. They committed more fouls as frustration crept in. Adriano, De Bruyne, and Silva all drew cynical tackles, with two yellow cards handed out in the space of 10 minutes.
In the 71st minute, the final dagger came. After a spell of slick passing, Silva released Adriano down the middle. The No. 10 burst forward, one-on-one with the keeper. Instead of shooting, he waited a split second and squared it unselfishly to Salah, who tapped it into the empty net.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLL! Mo Salah finishes the move but that was all about Adriano's vision and composure!"
The celebration was full of laughter. Salah pointed at Adriano, then mimed bowing to him. Adriano chuckled and gave him a playful shove. The mood in the stadium was pure joy.
Substitutions followed—Mangala replaced Van Dijk, Dybala came on for Silva, and Son replaced Salah. The intensity dropped slightly, and in the 83rd minute, Watford pulled one back from a deflected shot, but it was little more than a consolation.
The final whistle came to a thunderous ovation. City 4, Watford 2.
Adriano's name echoed around the stadium. Pellegrini shook hands with the opposing manager, while Adriano exchanged shirts with a Watford player, then waved to the home support.
Martin Tyler summed it up perfectly:"Another day, another masterclass from Manchester City… and especially from their star man, Adriano Riveiro. 8 goals in 4 matches, 3 assists. What a start for the season!"
****
Under the soft grey skies of Selhurst Park, anticipation buzzed through the narrow stands as Manchester City arrived to face Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the 2015–16 Premier League season. The South London crowd was lively and vocal, aware of the challenge ahead. City, fresh off four consecutive victories, were oozing confidence—but the real story before kickoff was Pellegrini's bold decision to start 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal for the first time. It was a sign of faith in youth, and many eyes would be on the young Italian.
Martin Tyler's voice rang out as the players lined up."Well, Alan, Manchester City have been relentless so far this season. Five changes today, and all eyes on young Donnarumma. A brave call."Alan Smith nodded in agreement. "Yes, Martin. It's a big moment for the lad, and a tough ground to do it in. But that's what makes this City side special—depth, confidence, and most of all, that man in midfield—Adriano. He's running games like a seasoned veteran."
From the opening whistle, City asserted control. Their 4-3-3 setup moved like clockwork. Silva and De Bruyne orchestrated from deep while Adriano constantly floated into half-spaces, dragging Palace's midfield out of shape. Aguero pressed high, flanked by Salah on the right and Hazard on the left, both sharp and direct.
The early minutes saw City stretch Palace across the pitch. In the 7th minute, De Bruyne threaded a delicate ball through to Salah, who skipped past Joel Ward and sent in a low cross. Adriano stepped over it, dummying smartly to leave it for Aguero. The Argentine hit it first time, but Julian Speroni reacted well, pushing it out for a corner.
Martin Tyler: "That's what City do. Layers of deception. One touch, one pass, and they create a chance."
Palace were struggling to contain City's rhythm. In the 15th minute, the breakthrough finally came. De Bruyne won the ball high up the pitch after a poor touch from Yohan Cabaye and immediately slipped it forward to Adriano, who took a quick glance before slotting a no-look pass between the centre backs.
Tyler's voice rose."Adriano… picks the gap… Aguero through on goal!"
The striker didn't miss. A clean strike low into the left corner."GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! NUMBER 10, SERGIOOOO AGUEROOO!" echoed around the stadium from the announcer.
The away section erupted in cheers. Aguero wheeled away to the corner flag, pointing toward Adriano in recognition. Adriano jogged over and the two embraced, laughing, while Silva ruffled Adriano's hair.
Alan Smith chuckled. "He's only 19 and already looks like he's been playing this level for years. Just composure and vision beyond his age."
Palace tried to rally. Zaha gave Robertson a few nervous moments, forcing the Scottish fullback into a rash foul on the touchline in the 22nd minute, earning a yellow. The resulting free kick saw Dann rise high, but his header skimmed just wide. Donnarumma, calm beyond his years, clapped his gloves and signalled his defenders with assured composure. The Palace fans jeered the youngster's every touch, but he didn't seem fazed.
City almost doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. A short corner routine saw Silva lay it to Adriano outside the box. The Portuguese prodigy whipped in a curling cross with his weaker foot, and Kompany met it, thundering a header toward goal. It cannoned off the crossbar and out. Gasps rippled across both sets of fans.
Martin Tyler: "Oh my word! Inches away from City's second. Kompany rose like a colossus."
The remainder of the half saw City control tempo. Adriano continued to dictate transitions, dropping deep when needed, then surging forward with deceptive pace. Just before the half-time whistle, he was fouled cynically by McArthur to stop a breakaway. The ref reached into his pocket—yellow card. De Bruyne's ensuing free kick went just over.
At the break, City led 1-0, but the game felt firmly under their control.
The second half saw Pellegrini wait until the 65th minute to refresh the attack. On came Son Heung-Min for Salah, and Mbappe for Hazard. The changes had an instant impact.
In the 70th minute, Adriano again drove at the retreating Palace midfield. He dragged two defenders in and slipped a reverse pass into the right channel where Son had just peeled away from his marker.
Martin Tyler: "It's Son… into space… looking for Mbappe at the back post…"
A precise low cross and there was Mbappe, sliding in, right foot extended, finishing with aplomb."GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! KYLIAN… MBAPPE!"
Mbappe sprinted to the corner, blowing a kiss to the away fans, while Son lifted him off his feet. Adriano joined the celebration, clapping his hands and smiling. He didn't score—but he was pulling the strings.
Alan Smith: "Another assist for Adriano. That's what makes him special. He doesn't need to be on the scoresheet to dominate a match."
Palace looked deflated. In the 81st minute, another chance—this time from a quick turnover. Casemiro intercepted, Silva collected and flicked a pass to Adriano. He carried it forward and played a disguised outside-foot pass through to Son on the overlap. Son cut inside and shot low—Speroni saved—but couldn't hold. Adriano pounced on the rebound but chose to flick it back rather than shoot. Aguero arrived late but scuffed his shot wide.
Martin Tyler: "Unselfish play from Adriano. Could've had a goal, but opted to tee up Aguero."
Finally, in the 88th minute, City made it 3-0. This time, De Bruyne found Adriano with space at the edge of the box. The fans rose, sensing something. Adriano shifted it onto his right foot, drew in two defenders, then lifted a cross toward the back post. Son attacked it with a diving header."GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY! SON HEUNG-MIN! That should seal it!"
The celebrations were wild in the away end. Flags waving, chants echoing: "Blue Moon Galacticos" rang across the stands.
As the full-time whistle blew, Donnarumma raised his gloves and hugged Kompany. The team surrounded the teenager, patting him on the back. A clean sheet on debut.
Martin Tyler signed off: "A mature display from a team growing in every sense. Five straight wins. Donnarumma delivers. Adriano shines again. And City… march on."
Alan Smith agreed. "They look unstoppable at the moment. Balanced, hungry, and deep. The way Adriano conducts the game, it's like watching a symphony."
Fans stayed long after the whistle, singing, celebrating another emphatic performance. And with five wins from five, the City faithful had every reason to believe this could be a truly special season.
****
The Monday morning football discourse in England had been completely hijacked. TalkSport, BBC Radio 5 Live, and every Sky Sports segment seemed to open with one unavoidable topic—Manchester City's perfect start to the season.
"Five out of five. Twenty one goals. Adriano on fire. Pellegrini smiling like he's got Aguero's cheat codes," joked Gary Lineker on talkshow, his suit jacket slightly undone after a long broadcast, "And now he's got a 17-year-old keeper who looked like Buffon reincarnated!"
Alan Shearer chimed in: "Honestly, they look frightening. It's not just the goals, it's how they're scoring. The movement, the chemistry… this isn't just a hot start. It looks like a statement."
Across Sky Sports' morning show The Football Review, the studio table was a battleground of exaggerated reactions and mock-panic.
"How do you even plan for that midfield?" said Jamie Redknapp, holding up a freeze frame of Adriano threading a no-look pass between Palace's defensive line. "You've got Silva orchestrating, De Bruyne ghosting into pockets, and then that lad—Adriano—doing things you normally reserve for PlayStation."
Graeme Souness grunted with a smirk. "He's got arrogance. But it's earned. He's not flashy for the sake of it—he hurts teams."
Back pages followed suit with bold, cheeky headlines.
The Sun:"Blue Blitz: City Smash Five Straight as Adriano Shines Again!"
Daily Mail Sport:"Teen Titans and Diamond Midfields: Pellegrini's Pep Impression?"
The Mirror Sport:"Adriano's World—We're All Just Living in It."
Some pundits, however, tried to inject realism.
Phil Neville warned on BBC Sport: "We've seen hot starts before. Let's see them in October, November. But I'll admit, they've got depth. You bring on Mbappé, Son, Rashford—that's a joke."
Even then, the optimism surrounding City wasn't limited to the media. Online, the fan reactions were at an all-time high.
@_CityzensUnite:"ADRIANO IS 19 AND HE'S MOVING LIKE PRIME KAKA. I HAVEN'T STOPPED SMILING SINCE AUGUST."
@EddieSzn:"Bro I went to Palace away and I swear the fans near me were just clapping when Adriano played that outside boot ball. We're witnessing greatness."
@MCFCMemes:"BREAKING: Adriano arrested for turning defenders to stone with his gaze. Released after scoring and assisting again."— Attached: A gif of him dribbling past 3 Palace midfielders while chewing gum.
On r/MCFC, one thread dominated the homepage:
[Post Title]: Five wins. twenty one goals. One baby-faced god.Top Comment: "We're not just winning—we're swaggering. Even Donnarumma is playing like it's the 2042 Ballon d'Or ceremony already."
Another reply: "I yelled when Son scored. Then I saw Mbappe celebrate with Adriano and remembered he's also NINETEEN. What is this simulation?"
Even neutral fans started noticing the aura.
@BenTheGunner:"Arsenal top of the league in July? Doesn't matter. We're getting cooked by City in October and you all know it. Adriano's gonna ruin our goal difference."
Meanwhile, memes of Pellegrini with a crown, Casemiro as a bodyguard, and Adriano photoshopped into every ancient Roman emperor portrait circulated across Instagram.
Back in Manchester, local coverage painted the city sky-blue.
Manchester Evening News ran the headline: "New Era Dawns: City's Youth Revolution Fuelled by Fire and Flair."An entire spread was dedicated to fan interviews outside the Etihad after the Palace win.
One elderly fan said to the reporter: "I've supported City since the Maine Road days. I haven't been this excited since Aguero's title-winner. And now this kid, Adriano? He's got that sparkle. It's like he was born with the club crest stitched on his heart."
Another group of young teens had matching home kits—Adriano #10 across the back. One of them shouted into the camera: "He's the best Portuguese since Cristiano, I swear down!"
A fan podcast titled "Blue Moon Rising" released a euphoric emergency episode.
Host Danny: "I need to apologise. I said in July this would be a slow-build season. But nah. Five games, twenty one goals, and I've already got 'Adriano' tattooed in Comic Sans on my arm."Co-host Steph: "We're literally rotating world-class players off the bench. Son, Mbappe, Rashford—like come on!"
Over on YouTube, the fan reaction vlogs were pure theatre.
One vlogger recorded from the away end at Selhurst Park:
"It's too easy for us right now. I saw Aguero smile before he even shot. Then Mbappe comes on, skins two full-backs, and Adriano just—how does he even see that pass? We're not watching football, we're watching jazz."
Another video showed City fans chanting after the final whistle:
🎶 "He dances through the field
Painting our dreams
Adriano Riveiro
He's our King!"🎶
The scenes outside the stadium were wild—smoke flares, scarves spinning, fans singing about being top of the league in mid-September.
And still, with all the praise and euphoria, most fans knew it was early days. But the sense around Manchester, around the Premier League in general, was undeniable:
City weren't just aiming for trophies—they were trying to dominate.
And as one Reddit comment summed up rather perfectly:
"We've got a Brazilian wall (Casemiro), Belgian brains (KDB), Spanish magic (Silva), Dutch steel (Virgil), English drive (Kane), and a Portuguese King in Adriano.
If this is the future, I'm ready to live in it."
*****
Adriano's Stats 2015-16 Season
Premier League
Match: 5
Goals: 8
Assists: 5
Community Shield
Match: 1
Goals : 2
Assists: 2
Euro Qualifiers
Match: 4
Goals: 6
Assist: 2