With talk of a January swoop for Wayne Rooney dominating the run-up to the game and top scorer Carlos Tevez rested, the Togolese striker hit his first goals of the season to send the Blues top of Europa League Group A.

The sizeable and noisy Lech Poznan following were largely making their own entertainment, but a Joel Tshimbamba at the start of the second did keep them in the game at 2-1 until Adebayor killed the contest with 15 minutes remaining.

City boss Roberto Mancini made six changes from the side that beat Blackpool on Saturday and with the inspirational Tevez left on the bench, Nigel de Jong took the skipper's armband.

But the Dutch hardman made an uncharacteristic error in the opening minutes letting in Slawomir Peszko, but his shot flashed wide from a tight angle.

But City were controlling the play and took the lead 13th minute with an exquisite goal from Adebayor.

The Togo hitman has been struggling for confidence but when Patrick Vieira laid a ball into him on the edge of the box, Adebayor cleverly rolled defender Bartosz Bosacki and coolly slotted home.

And on 24 minutes, he made it two when Adam Johnson and David Silva combined for a cross that Adebayor headed inside Jasmin Buric's far post.

Bur the Poles were thrown a lifeline at the start of the second half when sloppy defending from Joleon Lescott and Pablo Zabaleta allowed Joel Tshimbamba to prod home.

Silva, who was at the heart of City's best attacks, almost produced a second wonder goal in a week when he danced through three challenges but his low shot was deflected just wide.

Adebayor dawdled on a chance to complete his hat-trick before Tshimbamba blasted over from 12 yards for the visitors.

But it was Silva again who unlocked the Poznan rearguard with a defence-splitting pass that Adebayor sidefooted into the net.

Johnson rattled the Polish woodwork after cutting in from the wing while Adebayor miscontrolled in the box looking for a fourth late on.

In other Europa League action, Sevilla defeated Karpaty Lviv 1-0 away from home to move within one point of Paris Saint-Germain in Group J on Thursday.

Frederic Kanoute scored the winner for the visitors at Karpaty's Ukrajina Stadium in the 34th minute.

A Diego Perotti corner glanced off the head of Julien Escude before falling to Kanoute, who headed home from close range.

Karpaty, who have now lost all three of their Europa League games, also had Viacheslav Checher sent off with a minute to go.

PSG remain top after narrowly escaping from Borussia Dortmund's Westfalenstadion with a 1-1 draw.

Nuri Sahin put the German hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 50th minute, but Clement Chantome snatched a late equaliser from close range with three minutes remaining.

A Milos Krasnic goal helped Juventus salvage a 1-1 draw away to Red Bull Salzburg as Manchester City went top of Group A with their win.

PSV Eindhoven retained top spot in Group I after coming from behind to run out 2-1 winners away to Debrecen.

Mirsad Mijadinovski briefly put the hosts ahead with a strike in the 35th minute, before Orlando Engelaar levelled five minutes later. Jonathan Reis grabbed the winning goal in the 66th minute.

FC Metalist Kharkiv came from a goal down to defeat Sampdoria 2-1 at home, despite losing Taison to a second-half red card.

Defending champions Atletico Madrid defeated Rosenborg 3-0 to close the gap on Bayer Leverkusen to just a point in Group B after the German club was held to a 0-0 draw away to Aris Salonika.

Sporting Lisbon have a commanding lead in Group C after thrashing KAA Gent 5-1 at home.

The Portuguese side is five points ahead of second-placed Lille, who beat Levski Sofia 1-0.

In Group D, a Marco Ruben strike helped Villarreal to a 1-0 win over visitors PAOK Salonika at El Madrigal, while Sammir missed a penalty as Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 at home to Club Brugge.

FC Porto are in control in Group L after defeating second-placed Besiktas 3-1 away from home, despite finishing the game with nine men.

Rapid Vienna collected their first points with a 2-0 win away to CSKA Sofia.

The spoils were shared in Group K, with leaders Liverpool playing out a 0-0 stalemate in Napoli, while Steaua Bucuresti came away from Utrecht with a 1-1 draw.

Zenit St Petersburg are now six points clear atop Group G after a 2-0 win at home to Hajduk Split, while Anderlecht beat AEK Athens 3-0 to secure their first victory of the campaign.

Group H leaders VfB Stuttgart defeated Getafe 1-0 courtesy of a first half strike with Ciprian Marica. Young Boys are second following a comfortable 4-2 win at home to Odense BK.

Bate Borisov are three points clear in Group E after securing a 1-0 away win over Sheriff Tiraspol, Dynamo Kiev moved second after a 2-1 victory away to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

CSKA Moscow extended their lead to five points in Group F after beating Palermo 3-0, while Lausanne Sports staged a remarkable came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 away to Sparta Prague.