Manchester City 5-1 Atalanta: Sensational Sterling nets a hat-trick before Foden sees red

Manchester City fell behind to Atalanta on Tuesday before Raheem Sterling inspired Pep Guardiola's side with an 11-minute hat-trick.

Published : Oct 23, 2019 13:09 IST

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
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Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Raheem Sterling scored a second-half hat-trick as Manchester City moved closer to securing its progression from Champions League Group C with an emphatic 5-1 win over Atalanta.

Ruslan Malinovskiy's penalty capped a fine start for Atalanta, but the Serie A side was little match for City once Pep Guardiola's men - led by the impressive Sterling - clicked into gear.

Sergio Aguero was the benefactor of Sterling's work in the first half, tucking in from a brilliant cross before converting a penalty the England forward won.

Sterling took matters into his own hands from then on – his treble coming in the space of 11 productive minutes for City, though the emphatic win was marred by the late dismissal of Phil Foden.

Atalanta squandered a three-goal lead against Lazio in Serie A on Saturday yet was swiftly on the front foot in Manchester, taking the lead in the 28th minute. Josip Ilicic forced Fernandinho into a clumsy challenge, with Malinovskiy making no mistake from the resulting penalty.

Atalanta's opener merely sparked City into life, though, Aguero nudging home from Sterling's perfectly weighted cross and then punishing Andrea Masiello's desperate lunge by scoring from the spot.

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City was soon dealt a blow as Rodri was forced off with a hamstring injury, though Kyle Walker would have extended the host's lead if not for Pierluigi Gollini's smart stop.

There was an injury concern for Aguero at the start of the second half but, after the striker was deemed fit to continue, Guardiola's side had its third. Kevin De Bruyne teed up Foden, whose touch fell kindly for Sterling to hammer home from close range.

He doubled his personal tally within six minutes, lashing beyond Gollini after racing onto Ilkay Gundogan's pass.

After Remo Freuler had a goal ruled out by the offside flag for Atalanta, Sterling knocked in Riyad Mahrez's cross to complete the rout, though Foden's second booking for a foul on Marten de Roon forced the host to play out the closing minutes with 10 men.

What does it mean? City right on track

With Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk drawing, City is five points clear at the top of Group C and a win over Atalanta on November 6 will guarantee its place in the last 16.

Atalanta may be flying high in Serie A but Gian Piero Gasperini's side is yet to take a point from any of its group fixtures, conceding 11 goals and scoring just two in return.

Aguero back on the goal trail but Sterling runs the show

Aguero may have ended a three-game scoreless streak but there was no doubting Sterling was the mastermind of City's rampant display.

Having created the equaliser and played a crucial role in City's second, the former Liverpool player proved irresistible after the break, running Atalanta's defence ragged as he became the eighth English player to score a Champions League hat-trick.

City's defensive issues continue

After excelling alongside Fernandinho at the back against Crystal Palace, Rodri was again partnered with his fellow midfielder on Tuesday, only to suffer a hamstring injury while chasing down Alejandro Gomez shortly before half-time.

The Spain international was taken straight off, with John Stones introduced.

What's next?

In-form Aston Villa visits the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday, while Atalanta - which sits third in Serie A - hosts Udinese a day later.

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