There was very much a Samba beat to this Manchester City victory – and it almost had a famous father in the crowd up dancing.
This was a night when Brazilian Allan Elias scored his first goal on an enterprising first appearance for City.
But it was another debutant who stole the show as the Carabao Cup holders sailed past Norwich City to set up a fourth-round meeting with Brighton .
Floyd Samba scored two fine goals and had a hand in another on a dream debut that had his beaming dad up off his seat and thrusting his arms in the air as if ready to party.
If the Samba surname feels familiar, that is because Floyd's father Christopher played more than 200 games for Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa .
In fact, it was very much a family affair as Floyd's brothers Tyrone and Emerson, who are also in City's academy and hoping one day to tread a similar path, joined in the jubilant celebrations alongside their mother, a visibly emotional Theresa.
Samba looked up to find his family in the crowd after scoring at the Etihad - Getty Images/Alex Livesey
His father Christopher was in the stands
This particular evening belonged to Floyd, though. Deployed as a lone striker by Enzo Maresca, you would not have known he ordinarily plays as a midfielder such was the confidence and composure the 17-year-old oozed.
Norwich could not live with him or City for that matter as Maresca's impressive start as manager since replacing Pep Guardiola continued apace.
This must have been an incredibly satisfying moment for Samba Sr. He came through incredible hardship – at one stage as a teenager he was rough-sleeping – to forge an impressive career totalling more than 450 games for club and country.
So to be in a position to now have three sons in City's academy and one produce a debut like this will fill him with enormous pride. Floyd was later seen enjoying a warm embrace with his dad in the crowd, moments after being congratulated by Tyrone, a year his senior, and 12-year-old Emerson, who plays for City's Under-13s.
"I knew there would be an opportunity to get some minutes for the first time with the first team – to get a debut like that is mind blowing," Samba said. "I couldn't believe it myself, but that's just the beginning, I've got a big career ahead of me. It was a great debut."
Floyd caught the eye with a fine free-kick in City's 2-1 FA Youth Cup final victory over Manchester United last season and now he has goals for the senior side to his name. Pretty stunning they were, too.
The first was a superbly steered header past two Norwich bodies on the line from Allan's cross and the second a lovely, nonchalantly curled finish low into the far corner.
Chris Samba has deliberately kept a low profile, keen to let his sons get on with their own careers free of distractions, but there was no chance he was going to be able to suppress his emotions in that instant. And nor should he. It was some moment for the boy and his family.
As impressed as Maresca was by the goals, it will have been other elements of Samba's game that also caught the eye. He did extremely well to hold off the attentions of Norwich's centre-backs when receiving a pass from Ayyoub Bouaddi and then returning the ball to the Moroccan who released Rayan Cherki through to score City's second. His movement was also sharp, at one point taking a difficult pass sweetly in an adjusted strike, only for Norwich's Bruno Alves to come across to make a timely intervention before Samba could get his shot off.
"It was satisfying not just for the two goals but for the entire performance," Maresca said. "He didn't play many games as a nine but he was good. He's young, full of energy, strong, he can finish."
Allan, a £34m summer signing from Palmeiras, will have been just as pleased with his contribution. Maresca's fluid formation initially resembled a 3-1-5-1 with Allan effectively operating as a right wing-back but he stuck doggedly to the task before eventually getting the moment to showcase his quality, first with his cross for Samba and later with a neat solo run and finish.
Driving inside Sam Field and then cutting back inside the Norwich man before curling an inch perfect finish into the bottom corner – all of it done with his left foot – it was quite the introduction.
Hugo Viana, City's director of football, has said supporters will need to be patient with Allan and that it may take the 22-year-old time to adjust to English football but this first outing will do his confidence plenty of good.
"It was important for him to play 90 minutes and to see a little bit the English competition that is a bit different from South America so overall was good," Maresca said.
Cherki was the only survivor from the team that started Sunday's victory over Manchester United but it all felt pretty seamless from City. Bouaddi, the £85m signing from Lille , was poised and graceful in midfield alongside the impressive Mateo Kovacic and Geronimo Rulli could not have asked for a much quieter debut in goal.
Nico O'Reilly looked like he had barely broken a sweat despite Norwich's players routinely being unable to keep up with him. Norwich themselves made nine changes but the gulf in class was enormous and testament to City's strength in depth.
The game also gave Maresca the opportunity to give run outs to two more academy graduates who played in that Youth Cup final triumph, Kaden Braithwaite and Ryan McAidoo and the latter got his own name on the scoresheet to make it 5-0.
All told there were seven City academy graduates on the pitch, two of them playing for Norwich. This was certainly a night to remember for the club's youth production line.
09:25pm
With the dominant performance, Man City have earned themselves the privilege of hosting Brighton in the next round, who will no doubt prove a much stiffer challenge than Norwich. They become the sixth all-Premier League tie in the next round, with only Fleetwood, Bradford and Peterborough remaining from outside the top flight:
Fleetwood vs Arsenal
Manchester City vs Brighton
Everton vs Newcastle
Bradford vs Peterborough
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
09:22pm
Possession: Man City 66% vs 34% Norwich
Shots: 14 vs 4
Shots on target: 6 vs 0
Touches inside opposition box: 30 vs 4
Corners: 2 vs 3
09:21pm
Erling Haaland left out of the squad, watching from the stands, would have enjoyed that performance from Floyd Samba. Here is his second goal for you to enjoy on his debut night:
09:19pm
Five unanswered goals and a home-grown hero emerges for Manchester City!
09:17pm
Well that just seals the deal!
Great through ball from O'Reilly, which Lewis lets run past him for the dummy. McAidoo runs on to it on the right of the box and first-time fires it low into the far corner.
It has been a perfect night for Manchester City's academy.
09:17pm
Well we look like we're heading for a matching scoreline to the previous edition of the fixture. That pesky shot on target is still eluding Norwich, whereas Samba is still out there looking for his hat-trick.
Two minutes of time to be added – who will get there first?
09:11pm
O'Reilly sends a high, looping ball to the back post from the left side, where McAidoo rushes to meet it but can't get over it under pressure.
Final change for Norwich, as Kvistgaarden who has not had much service tonight, comes off for Schwartau.
09:08pm
Bouaddi sends a looping ball across the field to McAidoo, which he picks up on the edge of the box, but he is unable to get the ball under control to take his shot and it is cleared away as far as another City shirt.
09:05pm
The corner comes in to the centre of the box but is headed out by a City shirt.
It's all slightly too little too late for Norwich.
They get another corner as Musaba tries to send a cross into the box from the right and it is blocked out.
09:03pm
A free-kick for Norwich now as O'Reilly commits the foul 35 yards out. It goes in towards McConville at the back post, but Ait-Nouri heads it out for a Norwich corner.
09:02pm
Almost a consolation!
Mo Touré strays just offside on the edge of the box, as Musaba sends a lovely little ball over to find him on the turn and the forward slots it past Rulli. Celebrations don't quite begin before the flag goes up but that is a shame for the visitors.
09:00pm
Norwich have managed to get more of a grip in this half, despite conceding two more goals, but they are still without a shot on goal as we approach the final 15 minutes.
08:59pm
Another round of changes for both sides.
Man City take off scorer of their third goal Allan to bring on Braithwaite.
Norwich replace Ben Slimane and Bruno Alves with Touré and McConville.
08:57pm
Man City are still going.
Samba again at the heart of the action, laying off the ball to McAidoo on the right for the winger to run into the box. His shot towards the far post is saved low by Grimshaw who spills it almost into the path of Lewis, but Norwich survive.
08:53pm
Lewis makes a run down the right-hand side and crosses into Samba on the edge of the box. He lays off to McAidoo, but his shot goes sailing over the bar.
A surprise to no one, it is chucking it down in Manchester.
08:51pm
Big cheers from the away end as Norwich get their first corner of the evening. It is lofted high and long to the back post, where it is headed away by Bouaddi. It bounces out to Musaba, who has just come on, and he strikes it from the top of the box on the half-volley.
His shot cuts through a crowd in the box and has Rulli diving to his left, but it goes wide of the post. What an introduction that would have been!
08:49pm
Well all the stories from this match will be all about young Floyd Samba. Feel free to leave your best punny Samba/dance-related headlines in the comments section.
For Man City as you would expect it is all about game management from here on out.
Some more changes to report for Norwich as well, as Crnac is replaced by Musaba.
08:46pm
Wright is able to run in to space towards the edge of the box, but as has been their story all evening, his pass out to the wing is just not where it needs to be and their effort just breaks down.
08:42pm
What a way to score a second! A night to remember for Floyd Samba!
Norwich try and play out from the back but far too sloppy and Ait-Nouri picks up the ball on the left of the box. He has plenty of time to tee up Samba inside the box at the left corner, who finds himself with plenty of space to curl his shot into the far corner, beating the diving Grimshaw.
We may be seeing plenty more of him this season.
Samba scored a double on his senior debut - Getty Images/Alex Livesey
08:39pm
Norwich looking for their way back into the game, as the ball comes down the left, fizzed in low and flashes past Rulli, trying to claim it. It deflects off a crowd of bodies and spins up, but Fisher can't connect and it spins away harmlessly wide of the goal.
It is definitely Norwich's best chance of the game and Fisher will be upset he hasn't made more of that.
08:36pm
And Allan makes it three! Minutes after the restart, the Brazilian makes his own mark on his debut.
Maresca switched him onto the left side to escape Yongwa , and he picks up the ball outside the box and makes the run inside. He runs circles around Field and slots the ball home into the far bottom corner.
Another debutant goal!
08:32pm
Some changes from both sides at half-time. McAidoo comes on for Cherki, though O'Reilly is the one to move up into midfield to fill the gap.
Norwich take off Diallo for Maghoma.
45 minutes left for the visitors to create something special!
08:28pm
08:26pm
Manchester City will be the ones to host Brighton in the next round – giving the visitors the opportunity to pull off a remarkable feat of knocking out both Manchester sides should they win.
Enjoy the highlights from last night as they came from behind to dispatch Man Utd:
08:19pm
Possession: Man City 72% vs 28% Norwich
Shots: 7 vs 1
Shots on target: 2 vs 0
Touches inside opposition box: 15 vs 1
Corners: 1 vs 0
08:18pm
And without much ado at the end of the half, we have reached the break. City put themselves in control with two quick-fire goals and it looks a tall task for Norwich to find their way back into the match.
08:17pm
Credit where it is due, Yongwa has been very good for Norwich. He has stood fast, made some very good challenges and stopped Allan getting much of a look-in on the right.
Yongwa has been locked in a battle with Man City's Allan - PA/Mike Egerton
08:13pm
As we approach half-time, the stats tell a sorry story. Norwich have had just 28% possession and created a single shot, none on target.
As City come again, Norwich have pulled every man back to try and keep the situation salvageable before the break.
08:10pm
Samba was in again there, making a run into the box with a ball from Cherki, wrestling with Bruno Alves as he goes. The defender does enough to throw him off and Grimshaw is able to come out and snatch the ball.
08:07pm
Man City are looking to close this out now, and they look threatening every time they break.
Ait-Nouri is the latest to try his luck, making a run into the box from the left, but his shot is blocked.
08:04pm
A few minutes to remember here for Floyd Samba. First he steers home a very well taken header to give City the lead and then he plays a crucial role in the second, holding the ball up well before laying it off to Bouaddi to release Cherki to score. That's how to make an impression on your debut.
08:03pm
And the floodgates have opened. Two goals in two minutes for the defending champions.
Samba finds Bouaddi in midfield, who takes it forward and feeds Cherki running to his left. He gets himself one-on-one and slots cool as you like into the bottom left corner.
City are in control all of a sudden and Norwich will be devastated.
Rayan Cherki doubled City's lead at the Etihad - Reuters/Phil Noble
08:00pm
As soon as I say that, Floyd Samba finds a way through.
He has looked the brightest for City, and O'Reilly sends a cross over the box from the left, drawing Grimshaw away from position. The ball is pinged back in by Allan and the youngster stoops to meet it, heading in to the bottom corner.
Dream debut!
Floyd Samba scored on his senior debut with Man City - AP/Dave Thompson
07:58pm
Norwich have been very disciplined in defence so far. Yongwa has been closing down Allan on the wing very well.
Cherki is starting to get some momentum – but is swarmed by yellow shirts as he picks up the ball on the edge of the area.
07:57pm
Another loose ball from City in midfield and Norwich pick it up again. The ball to set the front line free is equally as loose from the visitors though and it breaks down once again.
07:54pm
Samba is looking lively, racing to get on a ball in front of Darling just on the edge of the box. Darling recovers to send it out for a corner, which becomes a free kick after Ait-Nouri wrestles his man to the ground at the back post as City are taking.
07:52pm
Wright sends a long ball across the field, looking for a man on the right side but Rulli is alert to it and comes to claim at the edge of the box.
07:50pm
Kovacic shows some promise with a strong run on the ball down the centre of the field, taking the ball all the way to the edge of the box, where he collides with a defender, and the ball spins away for Norwich to clear out.
This is better from City, who have looked like they're lacking drive so far.
07:48pm
Yongwa again probing down the left side. It takes two to dispossess him and Man City manage to get the throw in, but approaching 20 minutes Norwich will be happy with this.
07:43pm
Kovacic loses the ball in midfield and Norwich surge forward. The move breaks down as Wright's pass to Diallo on the wing is just behind him and he can't take it forward into the box.
07:41pm
Spent the first 10 minutes trying to work out City's system and settled on a 3-1-5-1, with Bouaddi operating as a nominal third centre-back, but it seems to have changed again now with O'Reilly dropping to left back and Bouaddi stepping into midfield. No doubt the metamorphosis will continue.
07:40pm
This Man City team have never played all together and it is clear that they're still settling in here, figuring out how they're going to press here.
Kovacic in the captain's armband is tying it all together in midfield.
Khusanov threads a lovely ball to Samba who flicks it into the path of Lewis, who takes it and makes a run into the box. He creates space and sends a right-footed shot over the bar – but Man City are building.
07:37pm
Norwich make a move forward, with Yongwa bringing the ball down the left side but his cross into the box is blocked by Allan sliding in. The Brazilian is then fouled again as Yongwa tries to reclaim the ball and Man City get back in possession.
07:35pm
It's actually three Samba brothers at City. The youngest, Emerson, is also in the academy.
07:32pm
Early foul on Allan gets Man City a free kick and they have started as everyone expected they would – in plenty of possession.
They look for the early goal as O'Reilly feeds him in the from the left side, but the shot is blocked.
07:30pm
We have kicked off in Manchester!
07:22pm
With just over 10 minutes until kick-off here are the teams for tonight's fixture:
Man City XI:Rulli; O'Reilly, Vitor Reis , Khusanov, Lewis; Kovacic (c), Bouaddi; Ait-Nouri, Cherki, Allan; Samba
Subs: Anderson, Braithwaite, Donnarumma, Fernández, Guéhi, McAidoo, Ndiaye, Matheus Nunes, Semenyo
Norwich City XI:Grimshaw; Yongwa, Bruno Alves, Darling (c), Fisher; Field, Wright; Diallo, Ben Slimane, Crnac; Kvistgaarden
Subs: Chrisene, Mattsson, Kovacevic, Maghoma, McConville, Musaba, Schwartau, Stacey, Touré
07:17pm
07:10pm
07:08pm
As Abdukodir Khusanov makes his fourth start of the season, Hugo Viana, Man City director of football, has been speaking about the young Uzbek. The 22-year-old signed a new five-year contract with City in July, and Viana has affirmed that he "will be one of the best centre-backs in the world".
06:52pm
It's nine changes for Norwich from the squad that lost 4-3 to Middlesbrough on the weekend.
Norwich goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw came through the ranks at Manchester City, joining as a teenager, so this will be a special night for the 28-year-old.
Daniel Grimshaw (centre) will be starting in goal against his former side - PA/Bruce Rollinson
06:45pm
Speaking of Phil Foden, the winger will not be making an appearance tonight, as he is serving his three-match suspension following his sending off in the Manchester derby. The England international lashed out at Bruno Fernandes after the United captain had fouled him, resulting in a red card for violent conduct.
As well as this fixture, he will also be missing City's game against Sunderland and the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool the following weekend.
We broke down the incident as it happened on Sunday and you can get the full story here
Phil Foden will miss three matches after his red card on Sunday - AP/Ian Hodgson
06:37pm
Heavy squad rotation (10 changes in total for Maresca) has handed debuts for Gero Rulli in goal, as well as Allan and Floyd Samba in the outfield.
17-year-old Samba is the latest from City's academy to be making his debut in the senior squad, following in the footsteps of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly and many more. A versatile midfielder, he has totalled 24 appearances across six competitions (incl Premier League 2) and scored 17 and assisted six goals in those matches.
Floyd Samba is the latest talent to emerge from Manchester City's academy - Getty Images/James Gill
Keep your eyes on young midfielder Floyd Samba, who has been handed his Manchester City debut tonight against Norwich by manager Enzo Maresca. Floyd is the 17 year old son of former Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba .
His older brother Tyrone, 18, also plays for City. The siblings played in City's FA Youth Cup final win over Manchester United last season, with Floyd scoring the first in a 2-1 win.
City fans will also be keen to see how Allan Elias gets on on his first start, having arrived from Palmeiras for £34m. Geronimo Rulli also debuts in goal.
06:32pm
06:31pm
Fleetwood vs Arsenal
Manchester City or Norwich vs Brighton
Everton vs Newcastle
Sunderland vs Brentford
Liverpool vs Chelsea
Bradford vs Peterborough
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
06:21pm
06:20pm
06:15pm
Good evening and welcome to another night of Carabao Cup coverage! It is the final fixture of round three (I promise) as Manchester City host Norwich.
These two sides have not met since 2022, when Norwich were still in the top flight and were beaten 4-0 by City. Looking at their previous meetings, the odds are definitely stacked in favour of Enzo Maresca's side, who have scored 14 unanswered goals in their last three meetings with Norwich, while the Championship side have not scored any.
City will be looking to make it six straight wins across all competitions tonight, having started perfectly in the Premier League with four wins from four, and comfortably seeing off Porto in their Champions League opener.
They were the talk of the weekend with their deeply controversial 1-0 win over rivals Manchester United as – having gone down to 10 men after Phil Foden was sent off – their winning goal was allowed to stand despite Enzo Fernández being clearly in an offside position that impacted United's keeper and backline.
City are defending their title in this competition – beating Arsenal last year in the final – but like all Premier League teams playing in European competitions, have only entered the tournament this year in the third round.
Philippe Clement's side beat MK Dons 4-1 in the first round, and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Cardiff City in the second to reach the Etihad tonight. The fourth-round draw has already been done, and it has been decided that the winner of this match will face Brighton.
But we have at least 90 minutes of the third round left before that, so without further ado, we'll get underway and bring you team updates shortly!
