Manchester City attempted to downplay talk of another rift with its controversial forward Mario Balotelli after the Premier League champion produced its best form of the season in a 3-0 victory over Sunderland.

Goals from Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergio Aguero, who replaced Balotelli (pictured) after 55 minutes, and James Milner were accompanied by City's first clean sheet of the campaign.

But the game was overshadowed somewhat by the behavior of Balotelli, who sauntered off the field and stormed directly down the tunnel to the City dressing room after being substituted.