(CNN) - Manchester City examined thoroughly Sunderland 5 - 0 to retain their Premier League title hopes English slim and to their position in the top four places in Champions League of cement.
England international Adam Johnson, making his first start since injuring his ankle in January, opened the scoring in the ninth minute, while the Captain Carlos Tévez doubled advantage Blues on a quarter of an hour from the penalty spot.
Strikes in the second half of David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Touré has completed the rout as city experienced over champion Chelsea third in the standings.
They are clear of Tottenham in the fifth, which was ahead for the final place in the Champions League, but which have played a game last season more than six points.
There are still seven matches go and anything can happen, but it's a boost of confidence for our team-Nigel Jong
Leaders Manchester United have a seven points ahead of Arsenal, who have played a game less, with their points neighbours city 10 adrift.
Indeed, the strikes of Johnson, who exchanged passes with Toure before finishing carefully, and Tevez, who has been tainted by Michael Turner to draw the penalty, ended the match as a contest with the city of always order face a poor recent form to Sunderland.
Silva scored after a shot from Mario Balotelli was blocked, Vieira with his first touch after coming off the coast of the bench and Toure after an error by Sunderland Captain Lee Cattermole.
Dutch international Jong Nigel city, said that the result was important for their Champions League ambitions.
"There are still seven matches go and anything can happen, but it's a boost of confidence for our team - we are real contenders for the places of the League of Champions." he told Sky Sports.
Serie of Italy a, Uruguay Edinson Cavani striker scored a hat-trick as Napoli came back from 2-0 and 3-2 to beat Lazio 4-3 to move in the second.
They trail leaders AC Milan by only three points after their 3-0 derby victory against reigning Champion Inter Milan, who are now third, five points adrift, on Saturday evening.
Goals from Stefano Mauri and Andre Dias gave Lazio the lead has two goals before Andrea Dossena and Cavani, with his first, drew level Napoli in a thriller.
An objective own Salvatore Aronica put the visitors back in front, but Cavani, from the point of penalty, balanced and then grabbed a superb winner of the team of Walter Mazzarri.
Lazio finished with 10 men as Giuseppe Biava after sending off the coast by giving the penalty.
CAVANI tried his best of wilted of title talk after their stunning victory.
"We are trying to win every game and do our best and points will be counted at the end of the season," he told Sky Sport Italia.
Defeat at Lazio taps their hopes of Champions League as they remain outside the top four in Italy.
In the Spain Liga, second half penalties of Spanish international Mali and Freddy Kanoute striker Alvaro Negredo contributed to Sevilla in a 3-1 victory at home on wrestlers Real Zaragoza.
The victory sees move to fifth in the standings.
Diego Perotti had put Sevilla ahead on 43 minutes only for the giant Czech Jiri Jarosik at level two minutes after the break.