Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has acknowledged that his side have all but secured their place in the Champions League group stages with a 5-0 win against Steaua Bucuresti.

Despite missing two penalties, Sergio Aguero bagged a hat-trick with David Silva and Nolito adding strikes of their own as City cruised to victory in Romania, and De Bruyne admits that his team could have threatened double figures during the first leg of their qualifying tie.

The 25-year-old told the club's official website: "We knew at half time that we needed to score a couple more goals and keep it to nil but now it's a really good advantage and we should qualify for the Champions League next week."

"We played a really good game. Even with the five-nil, it could have been eight or nine but it's a really good advantage for next week."

The second leg will be staged at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.