Manuel Pellegrini made seven changes and gave both David Silva and Yaya Toure the afternoon off yet Manchester City were still able to ease past Premier League strugglers Norwich City and into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Norwich, as ever, were full of energy going forward but were found wanting at the back as two goals in the first half hour or so put Manchester City in a position of control they never looked likely to relinquish.
Clinical finishing was the difference between the sides as Sergio Aguero struck his 11th goal of the season, followed by a fifth from the 19-year-old Nigerian forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, making only his third start and demonstrating again that he is a player with an exciting future.
Agüero raced behind the Norwich City defence to slot home
Kevin de Bruyne, who started on the bench before relieving Raheem Sterling after just over an hour, ended any likelihood of a Norwich comeback with a third goal for the visitors 12 minutes from the end.
Aguero had put them ahead after 16 minutes, running on to Sterling's backheel, effortlessly cruising past Sebastien Bassong, dodging Russell Martin's attempted tackle and deftly pushing the ball past John Ruddy for his fifth goal in his last five FA Cup appearances.
Norwich City attacking statistics
Willy Caballero had to react smartly to push away a thumping effort by Graham Dorrans following a misplaced clearance by the visitors as Norwich attempted to counter. But there was quickly more danger at the other end of the field.
Ruddy, making his first appearance since late November after losing his place to Declan Rudd, produced a good save to deny Aguero a second after a one-two with Iheanacho.
City celebrate their opening goal
Within moments of that escape, though, Norwich were punished again as Aguero controlled the ball nicely, bypassed two defenders as he cut in from left to right and then rolled a pass to Iheanacho, who had the confidence to take a first-time shot and the touch to poke it into the corner, beyond Ruddy's reach.
Pellegrini's changes were made with his focus in part on next Wednesday's Premier League match against Everton. Seven of the side beaten by Everton in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final on Wednesday were absent from the starting line-up this time and there was no involvement at all for Toure, Silva or Fernandinho.
Manchester City attacking statistics
Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna were on the bench alongside de Bruyne. Nicolas Otamendi might have been rested too but for he and Martin Demichelis being Pellegrini's only available central defenders.
Nonetheless, with Aguero and Sterling among those on the field, it was hardly a shadow line-up. In fact, the collective value of the side in terms of fees paid amounted to more than £180 million. Only Iheanacho represented inexperience, although there were three rookies on the bench in Bersant Celina, who came on for the final minutes. James Horsfield and 17-year-old defender Cameron Humphreys.
Kelechi Iheanacho (right) doubled City's lead just after the half-hour mark
Alex Neil, anxious not to put at risk the momentum of his side's recent progress away from the relegation places in the Premier League, likewise made seven changes from the eleven that gained a third win in four matches against Southampton last week. He could not be blamed for that, with a trip to Stoke on Wednesday to think about. Indeed, they were by no means outplayed. Manchester City were simply more precise at the key moments, while Norwich could not do quite enough to create serious anxiety for their defence.
Norwich never let their heads drop, and by sending on Nathan Redmond and Kyle Lafferty in the second half, Neil continued to ask questions. Cameron Jerome had a goal ruled out for offside and Cabellero had to arch his back to keep Lafferty off the scoresheet, pushing his header over the bat.
But the threat that Pellegrini's team would punish them again was always present. Jesus Navas hit the bar with a long-range shot from the right before De Bruyne, with a touch of sublime quality on the ball, sent defender Ryan Bennett one way and then the other before squeezing a shot past Ruddy to put the result beyond any doubt. And only Ruddy, with a fine save from a shot he saw late, denied Celina a goal on his debut.
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