Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick – and missed two penalties – as Manchester City all but secured a place in the Champions League group stage with an emphatic 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.

David Silva and Nolito were also on target as City, with Joe Hart again on the bench, eased to victory in the first leg of their play-off in Romania and maintained Pep Guardiola’s winning start.

City’s success would have been even more convincing had Aguero not missed twice from the spot in the opening 20 minutes at the Arena Nationala – continuing a poor European record – but ultimately that will probably not matter.

The tie looks beyond well Steaua heading into next week’s second leg in Manchester.

Elsewhere in the night’s play-off action, Young Boys were comfortably beaten by Gladbach 3-1 with the German side in control when they host their Swiss opponents in the second-leg.

FC Copenhagen were the only team to win on home soil on Tuesday, overcoming APOEL 1-0, while Ajax drew with FC Rostov and Dinamo Zagreb were held by Red Bull Salzburg, both those games finishing 1-1.