Inter 0-3 Manchester City: Balotelli, Dzeko & Adam Johnson on target as Mancini defeats former side

Both sides fielded strong starting lineups as they look towards high-profile domestic engagements next weekend, although Mancini was without £38 million new boy Sergio Aguero, having been ruled out after suffering from blisters following Saturday's training session.

Nevertheless, it was City who made the brighter start and, after his much-publicised bust-up with Mancini in last week’s clash with LA Galaxy, it was predictably Balotelli who found himself at the centre of the action against his former club.

The 20-year-old had the ball in the Inter net after just 90 seconds, redirecting David Silva’s shot inside Julio Cesar’s far post, only to find his effort ruled out for offside by the linesman. A minute later he went close again, heading Aleksandar Kolarov’s drilled cross just over the bar.

Stung into life by the early City onslaught, Inter rallied and the lively interchanges between Wesley Sneijder, Ricardo Alvarez and Samuel Eto’o ensured the City defence could never rest easy.

But it was still City, and in particular Silva, who carried the greater threat, and the Spaniard’s jinking run and cut-back forced Cesar into denying first Yaya Toure and then Balotelli with reflex saves.

Minutes later City had the ball in the back of the net again – this time Dzeko volleying emphatically past Cesar from another pinpoint Kolarov delivery – but for a second time the City striker’s movement fell foul of the offside flag.

Inter seemed content to allow City to dominate possession and look to counter with pace, but even when the Italian giants did succeed in breaking away, the likes of Eto’o and Stankovic were restricted to long-range strikes which Hart dealt with comfortably.

Neither side appeared either able or willing to sustain the blistering early pace, and the game appeared to be petering out towards the interval.

That all changed, however, on the stroke of half-time. Julio Cesar had to make an excellent reaction save to deny Balotelli, after gifting him a free run at goal with an awful clearance.

But there was nothing the Brazilian stopper could do from the resulting corner, however, as Balotelli powered a thunderous header past him to break the deadlock.

The late goal just before of the interval rattled Inter but galvanized City, who quickly doubled their lead a minute into the second half. Great vision from Silva sent Dzeko galloping free towards the Inter goal, and the big Bosnian made no mistake, slotting the ball confidently past a stranded Cesar.

City were brimming with confidence now, and Inter’s keeper had to be alert once again to deny Milner as he raced on to Yaya Toure’s perfectly weighted through pass.

With a humiliation becoming a distinct possibility, Inter upped the tempo. Sneijder and Stankovic began to dictate the game for the Italians, although City’s massed ranks and disciplined defending repeatedly limited them to speculative attempts from range.

Hart could not afford to lose his concentration between the sticks however, and had to make a superb flying save to tip over Sneijder’s deflected free-kick. Moments later, he could only watch and hope as Stankovic’s brilliantly struck volley flew just wide of his post.

The biggest threat to City’s goal actually came within their own ranks. Lescott was left breathing a sigh of relief when his sliced clearance flirted dangerously with Hart’s goal before going out for a corner.

But City kept things tight at the back and substitutes Shaun Wright-Phillips and Johnson even combined to add a third late on as Roberto Mancini's men secured an impressive victory