Pep Guardiola’s side set the tone early and never eased off. Young defender Max Alleyne, making only his second senior appearance, opened the scoring by turning home from close range after a dangerous cross from McAidoo. It was a moment that underlined City’s blend of youth and quality.
Rodri then reminded everyone of his class. Making a rare appearance, the midfielder smashed an unstoppable strike from 30 yards, his first goal since scoring in the title-clinching win over West Ham on the final day of the 2023–24 season.
Exeter’s hopes were effectively ended before half-time. A clearance from Jake Doyle-Hayes deflected into his own net, and moments later Jack Fitzwater inadvertently turned Tijjani Reijnders’ low cross past his own goalkeeper to make it 4-0.
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City kept pressing after the break, despite making several changes and fielding seven homegrown players. Rico Lewis tapped in Semenyo’s cross before the January signing marked his debut in style, racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Rayan Cherki and calmly finishing.
Reijnders curled home City’s seventh, Nico O’Reilly headed in from another Lewis delivery, and McAidoo capped a fine display with a fierce strike of his own.
Exeter substitute George Birch briefly lifted the travelling support with a superb long-range consolation, but City were not done.
Lewis pounced on a loose ball late on to complete the scoring, as City hit double figures for the first time since a 10–0 win over Huddersfield in November 1987.
For Exeter, it was a harsh lesson. For City, it was a statement of depth, hunger and attacking power on one of the FA Cup’s most famous weekends.