City ease through to next stage without having to break sweat in simple victory

And they emphasised their credentials in the process as the double was completed against the Austrian champions, meaning City qualified for the last 32 in February with a game to spare.

Former Inter Milan striker Balotelli, who arrived in the summer for 24m, scored either side of half-time with Adam Johnson also in form and finding the target.

It was almost like a training session for City given their possession and they should have been more than one goal to the good at the interval.

"I like coming inside on my right foot to try and get shots off, and luckily tonight I got another goal," said Johnson afterwards.

"It was tough, in Europe it's slower than the Premier League and that showed tonight, but we got the result we wanted."

The competition is one of the few trophies in the game midfielder PatrickVieira has not won in his illustrious career.

He added: "It would be nice if we can go on and win it."

Joe Cole is set to make his first appearance for five weeks in Liverpool's Europa League tie away to Steaua Bucharest tonight.

The England midfielder has been sidelined by a hamstring injury but will take his place in a weakened side.

Fixtures (7.45 unless stated)

UEFA Europa League, Group D: PAOK Salonika v Club Brugge (8.05), Villarreal v Dinamo Zagreb (8.05). Group E: BATE v Dynamo Kiev (8.05), FC Sheriff v AZ (8.05). Group F: CSKA Moscow v Lausanne Sports (6.00), Palermo v Sparta Prague (8.05). Group J: Borussia Dortmund v Karpaty Lviv (6.00), PSG v Sevilla (6.00). Group K: FC Utrecht v Napoli (6.00), Steaua Bucuresti v Liverpool (6.00). Group L: CSKA Sofia v Besiktas (6.00), Rapid Vienna v FC Porto (6.00).