Manchester City vs West Ham United
Etihad Stadium, Matchday 6 – Premier League 2015/16
A crisp Manchester afternoon greeted the 50,000-plus fans gathered at the Etihad. The atmosphere was hopeful but tense—City had won five in a row, but there was a quiet awareness that West Ham had a knack for frustrating the big sides.
Manuel Pellegrini made a few rotations from the previous match against Crystal Palace, sticking to the 4-3-3 formation but tweaking its function for a more balanced, defensively stable setup. Adriano was rested today, and He and went to pick up Kate from the airport.
Starting XI – Manchester City
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vincent Kompany (C), Mats Hummels, Theo Hernández
MID: Casemiro, Kevin De Bruyne, Adriano
ATT: Mohamed Salah, Sergio Agüero, Eden Hazard
The opening whistle blew, and from the first few minutes, it became evident that West Ham had come to defend. A tight 5-4-1 shape, camped deep in their own half, nullified any early initiative from the home side.
"Looks like a proper parked bus here, Martin," Alan Smith remarked with a chuckle. "West Ham not interested in anything but damage limitation."
"They've made it into a five-man wall at the back, Alan. Tough to break down, even with this City frontline," Martin Tyler replied.
Despite the defensive wall, Manchester City dominated possession. Adriano, operating in a free attacking midfield role, was orchestrating patiently. His movements were subtle—dropping deep to collect, twisting defenders with short touches, and floating passes wide.
In the 18th minute, Adriano sprayed a lovely diagonal ball to Salah, who controlled it with his chest, cut inside, and tried to bend one far post—but it flew narrowly over.
"First real sighter of the game," Martin Tyler noted. "Salah's got the right idea, but still no breakthrough."
Another moment came in the 27th minute when Adriano picked up a short pass from De Bruyne near the edge of the box. He shaped to shoot but instead slipped a no-look reverse pass to Agüero, whose one-touch finish was parried by the keeper.
"Brilliant vision from Adriano again. He's not just a goalscorer—he opens doors like a locksmith," Alan Smith said.
There were a couple of nervy moments at the back, particularly when Theo Hernández was dispossessed in the 34th minute. But Donnarumma remained alert, diving low to push a rare West Ham effort wide.
City's dominance continued but failed to translate into goals. Adriano's creative touches sparked roars of anticipation from the home support, but the final product was missing. The half-time whistle was met with polite applause and a murmur of frustration.
Half-time: Manchester City 0 – 0 West Ham
Pellegrini knew something had to change. As the players came out for the second half, David Silva replaced Casemiro, pushing Adriano slightly forward in the midfield three and giving City more fluidity and control.
The impact was almost immediate. City's tempo changed. The movement became sharper, and the press more aggressive. The crowd sensed it, rising in volume.
Then came the moment.
56th minute: A loose pass from West Ham's midfield was intercepted expertly by Silva, who surged forward and laid it off to Adriano. The Portuguese star controlled it, lifted his head, and turned.
"Here he goes, Premier League goal number 9?" Martin Tyler said, voice rising.
Alan Smith chuckled, " Too early to conclude, isn't it?"
Adriano burst forward, evading a sliding challenge with a clever jump. He touched the ball wide with his left, dragging a defender, then cut inside sharply with his right, leaving another in his wake.
Martin Tyler spoke excitedly. "That's majestic balance, Alan!"
Alan Smith nodded. "Just glides through, doesn't he?"
He reached the box. No hesitation. Outside of the right foot, he whipped a curling effort from 18 yards. The ball struck the underside of the bar and slammed into the net.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLLLLLLL! The King has broken the deadlock! ADRIANO puts Manchester City ahead! What a finish!"
The Etihad erupted. Adriano peeled away toward the sideline with a flourish. He tossed the imaginary crown into the crowd before standing tall, arms outstretched.
"WELL, there's the Adriano magic we've been waiting for!" Martin Tyler shouted, laughing. "That's Premier League goal number 9!"
Alan Smith, grinning, muttered, "I'm keeping my mouth shut next time, Martin. What a strike!"
City were now fully in control. Confidence flooded through the team. The next ten minutes saw wave after wave of attack.
In the 62nd minute, Hazard dribbled past two men on the left and fed a low cross to Agüero, whose attempt was blocked at point-blank range.
Then, 67th minute: De Bruyne, dictating from midfield, spotted Salah's run behind the full-back and played a perfect ball into the channel. Salah took it in stride, skipped past the covering defender, and swung in a cross.
Agüero was already in motion—he rose high between the two center-backs and connected powerfully.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLLL! Sergio Agüero makes it 2-0 for Manchester City! A textbook header!"
The stadium exploded again. Agüero pointed skyward and was soon mobbed by teammates. De Bruyne jogged over, grinning, and tapped his chest twice in celebration of the assist.
Pellegrini made his planned changes shortly after. 70th minute: Rashford and Dybala came on for Hazard and Adriano, both of whom received warm applause. Adriano, especially, got a standing ovation, fans chanting his name rhythmically—"Adriano! Adriano!"
Martin Tyler remarked, "You can feel the affection from these fans. He's 19, but already walking like a king in Manchester."
"Goal, assist, control—what more can you ask?" Alan added.
The final 20 minutes saw City maintain control but lower the tempo slightly. Rashford had a chance in the 78th minute, breaking down the left and cutting inside, but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Dybala nearly added a third in the 85th, with a curling left-footed effort from outside the box, just whiskers wide.
There was a late free-kick scare when West Ham floated in a deep cross in stoppage time, but Donnarumma was commanding, coming off his line to punch clear.
Final Whistle: Manchester City 2 – 0 West Ham United
Martin Tyler summed it up. "Six wins on the trot for Manchester City. Adriano pulling the strings again. A moment of brilliance, and a reminder why the Premier League just can't take their eyes off this young man."
Alan Smith nodded. "Job done. Professional, patient, and lit up by moments of class."
As the fans emptied out of the Etihad, many stayed to wave at the players during their post-match lap. Adriano handed his shirt to a young boy in the front row, drawing cheers again. Another chapter written in his rising legend.
*****
EFL Cup – 3rd RoundSunderland vs Manchester CityStadium of Light – Sunderland, England
The League Cup may not carry the same weight as the Premier League or Champions League, but for the thousands gathered at the Stadium of Light, it was a night under the lights that mattered. And for a rotated Manchester City squad—rested, youthful, and hungry—it was a chance to make a statement.
Manchester City Starting XI (4-3-3):GK: DonnarummaDEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eliaquim Mangala, Virgil van Dijk, Theo HernándezMID: Casemiro (DM), Alexis Mac Allister, Paulo DybalaATT: Son Heung-min, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane (ST)
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Sunderland had no intention of rolling over. A loud home crowd roared them on with every early touch. They pressed high in the first few minutes, looking to rattle the rhythm of a City side full of energy but short on minutes played together.
"Early signs of urgency from Sunderland," Martin Tyler observed. "They want to test this reshuffled City side, especially at the back."
"Van Dijk and Mangala have barely played together," Alan Smith added. "Could be shaky early on."
9th minute: A miscommunication between Mangala and Casemiro led to a turnover in midfield. Sunderland pounced—an early strike from the edge of the box whistled just wide of Donnarumma's post, drawing gasps from the home crowd and a clap of relief from the City bench.
14th minute: First big moment for City. Mac Allister sent a clever ball into the left channel. Theo Hernández surged forward, overlapping Son, and drilled a low cross toward Kane at the near post. Kane connected, but the ball deflected off the keeper's leg and went out for a corner.
"Lovely link-up there down the left," Alan said. "Kane did well to get that on target."
Trent took the corner short to Dybala, who floated it toward the far post. Van Dijk met it in the air, but the header landed on the roof of the net.
21st minute: The breakthrough came.
City won possession high up the pitch. Casemiro stepped in to intercept a loose pass and played it to Mac Allister, who slid a quick ball to Dybala between the lines. Dybala turned, spotted Mbappé making a diagonal run, and delivered a perfect through ball.
Mbappé didn't hesitate. He skipped past the last defender, took a touch wide to open his angle, and fired low into the bottom corner.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLL! KYLIAN MBAPPÉ opens the scoring for Manchester City! That's why he's one of the most dangerous men in world football!"
The away end exploded, flags waving and chants erupting from the travelling City faithful. Mbappé slid on his knees toward the corner flag, where he was mobbed by Son and Dybala.
"He makes it look simple," Martin Tyler remarked. "But the timing, the balance—that's pure class from Kylian Mbappé."
City looked energized after the opener, and the tempo increased. Dybala, in particular, began to control the midfield with his low center of gravity and sharp passing.
29th minute: Mac Allister delivered a teasing free-kick from wide left. Kane rose above his marker but couldn't direct it goalward—header flew over.
Sunderland didn't retreat. They kept pushing.
37th minute: A cheap foul by Mangala near the right touchline gave Sunderland a dangerous set-piece. The delivery was swung in deep—Donnarumma came out but missed it, and Sunderland's striker nodded it in from close range.
Announcer: "GOAL! Sunderland level it at 1-1! The Stadium of Light erupts!"
The home crowd was deafening, and City's defense looked momentarily stunned. Pellegrini stood arms crossed, calm but focused.
"Poor communication from Donnarumma there," Alan pointed out. "Young keeper, still learning."
But the response from City was swift.
Before halftime – 44th minute: Trent whipped in a long diagonal toward Son, who volleyed it first time into the box. It bounced awkwardly in front of the keeper, who fumbled—and Kane was there to pounce.
He slid in and tapped it home.
Announcer: "GOAL! HARRY KANE! City back in front, and that's a poacher's finish!"
Kane wheeled away, pointing to the badge and then gesturing toward the fans in the away stand. He was met by Mac Allister and Casemiro, who bumped shoulders with him in celebration.
"Didn't hesitate," Martin said. "That's the mark of a proper striker."
Halftime: Sunderland 1 – 2 Manchester City
The second half began with renewed aggression from Sunderland. City were pushed back slightly in the first 10 minutes, with Donnarumma needing to make a fingertip save in the 51st minute after a long-range drive.
Van Dijk stood tall at the back, calmly guiding the backline, barking instructions at Mangala. Trent and Theo continued to push forward when possible, but it was Dybala who again lifted City's play.
61st minute: Dybala picked the ball up 35 yards out. He danced past one challenge, exchanged a slick one-two with Kane, and then curled a precise shot from the edge of the box into the far corner.
Announcer: "GOALLLLLLLL! That is pure brilliance from Paulo Dybala! What a strike!"
The City bench rose as one. Dybala raced to the corner, arms spread wide, and slid on the grass. Mbappé was first to catch him, followed by Kane. Even Casemiro came charging down from midfield with a grin.
Martin Tyler said it plainly: "That's a stunner. A goal worthy of winning any tie."
Alan Smith added, "This City side might be rotated, but when you've got players like Dybala and Mbappé... the standard doesn't drop much."
68th minute: A scare for City—Theo Hernández was caught late with a crunching tackle near the left touchline. He rolled over in pain, but after brief treatment, got back up to loud applause from both sets of fans.
74th minute: Son almost added a fourth after a blistering counterattack led by Mbappé, but his shot was blocked superbly by a sliding challenge.
81st minute: Dybala nearly repeated his magic with another curler from the same spot. This one, however, shaved the outside of the post.
City played out the final minutes calmly, slowing down the pace, controlling possession, and running down the clock. Casemiro and Mac Allister stayed disciplined, closing down any Sunderland breaks.
When the final whistle blew, City had booked their spot in the next round.
Final Score: Sunderland 1 – 3 Manchester City
Martin Tyler closed with, "Six wins in the league, now a cup win away from home. A different eleven, but the same mentality. This team has depth, and the youngsters—Dybala, Mbappé—they're showing real quality."
Alan Smith nodded, "It's no longer just about the veterans or Adriano. Even on rotation, they've got answers everywhere."
The away supporters stayed long after the whistle, chanting in the rain-soaked night, as the City players applauded them back. Dybala, Mbappé, and Kane walked off together, smiles on their faces, a job well done.
*****
The October chill had already begun to creep into Manchester, but Adriano didn't feel it.Not today.He'd been grinning from the moment he got into his car that morning, and now, standing in the VIP arrivals lounge of the private terminal, his foot tapped impatiently against the polished floor.
Kate was finally coming back.Weeks of movie promotions in the U.S., red carpets, late-night interviews, and photo shoots had kept her away, and while FaceTime calls helped, it was nothing like having her here. In person. In his arms.
Through the wide glass windows, he saw the Gulfstream taxi to a stop. Moments later, the terminal doors slid open and there she was—pushing her luggage cart with one hand, the other adjusting her sunglasses, hair tousled from the flight but still effortlessly striking. The flashes started immediately—paparazzi at the far end of the cordon shouting her name—but Adriano didn't care.
The grin on his face widened as she spotted him. Kate's smile lit up instantly, eyes crinkling in that way he loved. She abandoned the luggage cart, leaving it for the airport staff, and all but ran toward him.
He opened his arms wide, and she jumped into them without hesitation. He caught her easily, spinning her around, the scent of her perfume familiar and comforting. The noise of cameras and voices faded for him—there was just her.
When he set her down, she didn't let go, cupping his face with both hands before pressing her lips to his in a lingering kiss.
"I missed you, babe," she whispered against his mouth, her voice soft but carrying all the weeks of absence.
"I missed you more," Adriano replied without hesitation, still holding her close. "Was thinking about flying over myself and dragging you back here. Can't let you miss the ceremony."
Kate laughed lightly, her fingers brushing over the stubble on his jaw. "Oh, come on. Like I'd miss your biggest day. That's what… after next week?"
He nodded. "First week of October. They're doing it early this year."
Her smile warmed. "Alright then, lover boy, take me home. I'd rather have you to myself than be blinded by camera flashes all afternoon."
Adriano chuckled, taking her suitcase handle from her. "Deal. Let's get out of here."
They moved quickly toward the exit, ignoring the shouts from photographers. Adriano pressed the key fob, and the low growl of his Bugatti Chiron greeted them. Kate slid into the passenger seat, stretching her legs out with a sigh as he started the engine.
The drive back to Manchester was quiet, Kate leaning her head against the headrest, occasionally glancing over at him with a content smile. At some point, her eyes fluttered shut, jet lag catching up and her breathing slowed into the steady rhythm of sleep.
When they reached his mansion, Adriano didn't wake her. Instead, he got out, walked around to her side, and gently lifted her into his arms. She stirred just enough to mumble, "Mmm… comfy pillow…"
He laughed under his breath. "Really? I'm downgraded to furniture now?"
Her sleepy reply came as he carried her upstairs. "You're my one and only cuddle buddy."
Setting her down on the bed, he pulled the covers over her. She reached for him without opening her eyes, and he gave in, lying down beside her. She wrapped herself around him, her head against his chest, and within minutes, both drifted into a late afternoon sleep.
Kate woke first. The soft golden light of evening streamed through the curtains, casting the room in a warm glow. She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at Adriano. He was still asleep, his arm draped over her waist, hair slightly messy, face relaxed. She smiled, resting her head back against his chest and listening to the slow, steady beat of his heart.
"This is perfect," she murmured to herself.
A few minutes later, his eyes blinked open, finding her gaze immediately. A sleepy smile curved his lips. "So my queen has finally woken up. You dragged me into an afternoon nap, you know."
Kate giggled softly and leaned down to kiss him. "You might be King of Manchester, but here at home, you listen to me—especially about naps."
Adriano grinned, his hand starting to wander. "Are we just talking about naps?"
Kate smirked, swatting his hand playfully. "Down, boy. I haven't even showered yet."
He raised an eyebrow. "Then let's fix that first."
Before she could react, he scooped her up again, making her squeal and laugh. "Adriano!"
He carried her straight into the ensuite bathroom, setting her down inside the glass-walled shower. The water turned on with a rush, steam beginning to fill the space. Kate's protests dissolved into giggles, and soon, the sound of running water mixed with their laughter and soft murmurs.
For the first time in weeks, there was no schedule, no cameras, no flights to catch—just the two of them, reconnecting without the world intruding.
By the time they stepped out, the windows were fogged, and both were grinning like teenagers. Adriano wrapped a towel around her and another around himself before pulling her close again.
"Better?" he asked.
Kate leaned her head against his shoulder. "Much better. You're not just my cuddle buddy, you're officially my personal wake-up call."
He kissed the top of her head. "And you're officially banned from leaving for more than two weeks at a time."
She looked up at him with mock seriousness. "Oh? Is that a royal decree?"
"Absolutely," he said, smiling, before leaning down to kiss her again.
They spent the rest of the evening in the living room, Kate curled up beside him on the couch with a blanket over both of them, catching up on everything they'd missed while apart—her stories from the promotional tour, his updates on training sessions, and his teammates' antics.
At one point, Kate laughed at one of his imitations of a teammate, leaning into him and shaking her head. "You've missed your calling as a comedian."
"I'll keep that in mind for when I retire," Adriano replied, eyes sparkling. "But for now, I've got one week to prepare for the biggest night of the year—and I'm glad you're here for it."
She reached over and laced her fingers through his. "Wouldn't be anywhere else."
And in that moment, Adriano knew—no matter the cameras, the crowds, or the pressure, this was the part of life he valued most.
*****
Premier League – Round 7Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City
The air around White Hart Lane was taut as a drum — home supporters louder than usual, hoping to put pressure on the visitors. Manchester City arrived with purpose; Manuel Pellegrini had named his full-strength XI, intent on continuing the form that had carried them through September.
White Hart Lane was electric. The home crowd were in full voice, waving their flags and belting out chants, determined to push Spurs toward a statement victory. Manchester City had arrived with intent. The stakes were high; the footballing world knew this fixture had history.
City Starting XI – 4-3-3 Attacking:GK: HartDEF: Kimmich, Kompany, Hummels, KolarovMID: Silva, De Bruyne, Adriano (Attacking)ATT: Salah, Hazard, Aguero (St)
The referee's whistle cut through the chanting. City started aggressively, pressing high and looking to pin Spurs back. From the first minute Adriano was central to their rhythm — drifting, collecting, always available for De Bruyne or Silva to slip that incisive ball through.
"And we're underway here at White Hart Lane," Martin Tyler's voice rose above the roar. "It's Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City, and what a game we have on our hands."
City started brightly, Hazard and Salah stretching the pitch wide, Aguero darting between the centre-backs. In the 6th minute, Silva threaded a pass through to Adriano, who turned sharply and unleashed a curling shot from 20 yards—Hugo Lloris had to dive at full stretch to push it around the post.
"Oh, you could see that was bending in," Alan Smith remarked. "Adriano's technique is just on another level."
From the resulting corner, De Bruyne's delivery found Kompany, whose header thundered just over the bar. The away fans let out an audible "Ooooh!" before breaking into a chorus of "Blue Moon Galacticos."
A neat one-two between Silva and De Bruyne opened space on the left; Silva's low cross found Hazard, but his first-time shot was blocked resolutely on the line. From the corner, City worked it quickly — Adriano's shot from the edge struck the defender and looped harmlessly wide. The away section responded with a hum of approval; they could sense the pattern.
Spurs responded in the 12th minute. Dembele latched onto a long ball over the top, chesting it down and striking low toward Hart's near post, but the City keeper got down quickly to smother. Moments later, Christian Eriksen whipped in a free kick from the left, forcing Hummels to head clear under pressure.
Tottenham countered through a quick switch of play and forced Hart into a sharp save at his near post. The rebound fell kindly for a home forward, but Kompany was there to shepherd the ball behind for a corner. The home crowd breathed again — their side had shown life.
The deadlock broke in the 21st minute. It started with Salah winning the ball deep in his own half, sidestepping Son and sprinting down the right wing. He cut inside and fed De Bruyne, who spotted Adriano drifting between Dier and Alderweireld.
"Here's Adriano… space opens up…" Martin Tyler's voice rose as Adriano took one touch to set himself before drilling a low shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.
"Clinical! Absolutely clinical from Adriano!" Alan Smith said with admiration. "No hesitation—Lloris didn't even have time to set himself."
The away end detonated. Light-blue scarves rose, bodies surged forward in a wave of sound. Adriano pumped his fists, breathless and focused; he jogged toward the corner flag, performed his crown-toss celebration, a quick flick of an imaginary crown into the crowd, then pointed to the traveling section as they chanted his name. Aguero was first to embrace him, followed by Hazard, and the rest. All of them grinning as Adriano pointed to the vip box winked at Kate who waved a Blue City scarf.
Over the stadium PA, the announcer's voice boomed:"Goal for Manchester City! Scored by number 10… Adriano!"The City supporters roared even louder, drowning out the groans from the home crowd.
Midway through the half a heavy challenge from Spurs' right-back on De Bruyne earned a stern yellow. Play halted for a minute while De Bruyne recovered; Pellegrini shouted instructions from the touchline, hands wide. Fans on both sides chanted in a short burst — "Come on City!" from the visitors; "Come on you Spurs!" in reply.
A threaded ball looked destined for Salah in the box, but the flag went up for offside by a fraction. Replays in the crowd monitors showed how tight it was; the away fans groaned but clapped approval at the intent. "That was razor thin," Alan said. "Salah timed his run like a wirewalker."
Spurs responded with renewed urgency. A high ball into the box was flicked on and nearly met at the far post; Hart was equal to it, palms out, collecting under pressure. Hummels and Kompany marshalled the area with authority; their communication was constant, hands and voices keeping the shape steady.
In the 38th minute, Spurs had their best chance of the half. Eriksen's through ball split the defence, and Son found himself one-on-one with Hart, but he scuffed his shot wide under pressure from Kimmich tracking back.
Half-time: Tottenham 0 — 1 Manchester City
Spurs came out aggressive after the break, pressing high. But in the 51st minute, City punished them on the counter. De Bruyne intercepted a loose pass and drove forward, slipping the ball to Hazard on the left.
Hazard shifted it onto his right foot, cut inside past Dier, and unleashed a thunderous strike from 22 yards that rocketed into the top corner.
"Oh, that is absolutely sensational from Eden Hazard!" Martin Tyler exclaimed. "A goal of real quality to double City's lead!"
Hazard sprinted toward the away fans, arms outstretched, before being mobbed by teammates. Adriano was right there, ruffling his hair with a grin.
By the 67th minute, Spurs were chasing the game, leaving gaps at the back. City capitalised.
Kimmich played a precise ball down the right flank for Salah, who danced past Davies and squared it to Aguero at the edge of the box. Aguero's quick flick sent the ball into Adriano's path.
"Adriano… it opens up again…" Tyler's tone sharpened.
One touch to control, a quick drop of the shoulder to glide past Alderweireld, and then—bang!—a rising shot slammed into the top right corner.
"That is world class! Absolutely unstoppable!" Alan Smith shouted. "The power, the precision—it's just devastating."
The away fans exploded in noise. Adriano sprinted toward them, sliding on his knees at the corner flag, arms wide as teammates swarmed him. Kompany wrapped him in a bear hug while Hazard patted him on the back.
"Goal for Manchester City! His second of the match, number 10… Adriano!" the announcer declared, prompting another wave of chants from the visiting section: "Adriano! Adriano!"
A quick Spurs move beat City's offside trap but the assistant raised the flag. It was close, and the home crowd erupted in frustration; the replays showed a fraction of time that kept City's clean sheet intact.
With a 3-0 lead, City managed the game with composure. Silva and De Bruyne kept possession ticking, Adriano still pressing Spurs' midfield whenever they tried to build. Spurs had a late chance in the 81st minute when Lamela's curling shot beat Hart but struck the outside of the post.
In the 88th minute, Adriano was replaced to a standing ovation. As he jogged off he received claps from both benches, and every travelling fan seemed to be on their feet. He acknowledged them with the same calm smile he'd shown after his goals — a gesture of thanks and quiet pride.
The final whistle released a roar from the away fans. Players walked toward the traveling supporters and applauded them back; Adriano, Hazard, and De Bruyne led the lap of appreciation with Kompany tipping his captain's salute. The stadium's atmosphere was split — proud home fans applauding a spirited opposition, while the visitors chanted and celebrated a controlled, emphatic win.
"Another masterclass from Adriano today," Martin Tyler summarised. "Two goals, and both moments of real quality."
"If the Ballon d'Or voters were watching," Alan Smith added, "they've got another reminder of why he's in the conversation as the best in the world."
As the last match of September concluded and the teams left the pitch under applause and chants, the footballing world already turned its attention to the biggest personal ceremony in European football — the FIFA Ballon d'Or. The cameras followed faces, and for many, Adriano's name would be on every shortlist and every commentary as the season pushed forward.
Soon, the shortlist for Ballon D'or was announced, and to no one's surprise, Adriano was there, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and and Lionel Messi. Most fans saw the ceremony as formality, as Adriano's Performance had been just sensational last season with the Premier League and Champion's League trophies, not to mention the broken records in both competitions. But they had to wait another week to make it offical.
*****
Adriano's Stats 2015-16 Season
Premier League
Match: 7
Goals: 10
Assists: 5
Community Shield
Match: 1
Goals : 2
Assists: 2
Euro Qualifiers
Match: 4
Goals: 6
Assist: 2