Manchester City 5, Atalanta 1
Raheem Sterling scored an 11 minute hat trick to kill off Atalanta in an entertaining 5-1 Champions League win for Manchester City at the Etihad.
Embed from Getty ImagesAguero and Sterling both reached 10 goals for the season (with Sterling powering on to 12 with his hat trick).
City lost Rodri to injury, though, and had to come back from a 1-0 deficit after Ruslan Malinovskyi’s first half penalty.
Atalanta, as expected, were forward thinking and got the lead when Fernandinho clumsily tripped Josip Ilicic.
Ruslan Malinsovski made no mistake from the penalty spot to put the Italians into the lead in the 27th minute.
Sergio Aguero had missed several great chances to put himself on the scoresheet before tapping in from 4 yards after getting on the end of Raheem Sterling’s cross from between two defenders 7 minutes later.
Aguero put City into the lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Sterling had been fouled by Andrea Masiello.
John Stones had to replace Rodri in the first half after the midfielder pulled his right hamstring trying to recover after missing a defensive header.
Remo Frueler thought he had scored again but there was an offside in the build-up after he slotted home his own rebound after his first shot came off the post.
City simply upped a gear and scored twice in 5 minutes to finish the game.
Raheem Sterling scored his second goal after cutting inside from the left flank after a delicious long pass by Ilkay Gundogan set him free. He put the ball inside the near post in the 64th minute in a manner similar to Arjen Robben.
And 5 minutes later he had his hat trick after he volleyed in Riyad Mahrez’ deep cross after Atalanta failed to clear Aguero’s shot.
And with 15 minutes to go Gundogan threaded him through again but the forward had plenty of time to think about it and sent his eventual shot wide.
City were reduced to ten men when Foden was handed his marching orders for his second bookable offence in seven minutes but the game was long over.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 5, Atalanta 1
Ederson: 8. Spilled an early aerial ball, but saved twice from Josip Ilicic and tipped away a late Ruslan Malinsovskyi free kick.
Kyle Walker: 7. Poor passing early on allowed Atalanta chances, he had a deflected shot at the end of the first half after De Bruyne laid the ball off for him. Looked to be more defensively minded.
Fernandinho: 6. Last line of defence for City but clumsy challenge on Josip Ilicic led to Atalanta’s first goal from the penalty spot. Back in midfield after Nicolas Otamendi joined John Stones in defence.
Rodri: 6. Ostensibly in defence but virtually played midfield in front of Fernandinho. Pulled his right hamstring when trying to chase Alejandro Gomez after missing a defensive header.
Benjamin Mendy: 6. Booked for early clumsy challenge. Replaced by Joao Cancelo midway through the second half.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Deep playmaking role, but had a long range shot saved by Gollini in first half injury time. Set up Sterling’s second goal with a great pass.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Crossing off early on but soon turned on the style. Taken off midway through the second half after taking heavy challenges.
Phil Foden: 7. Had a soft penalty claim turned down. Full of tricks, his ball carrying skills added a little extra to City and he carved out a brilliant chance for Aguero when rescuing a lost hope and set up Raheem Sterling for his first of the night with a delicate lay off. Sent off late on for overenthusiastic fouls.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. Isolated on the right flank. But still provided a great cross for Sterling’s hat trick.
Raheem Sterling: 10. Created both of Sergio Aguero’s goals. And might have handed him a hat trick if Aguero had timed his run better. Hit his own superb hat trick and should hae had more.
Sergio Aguero: 9. Worked hard and could have have a first half hat trick. Settled for two, both created by Raheem Sterling’s industry.
John Stones (on for Rodri, 41): 6. Nervous start, looked a bit rusty with wayward passing.
Nicolas Otamendi (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 67): 6. Slotted into defence to allow Fernandinho into midfield to quell Atalanta attacks.
Joao Cancelo (on for Benjamin Mendy, 72): 6. On to shore up the left flank.
GOALS – Manchester City 5, Atalanta 1
Man City 0, Atalanta 1: 27. Ruslan Malinovskyi made no mistake from the penalty spot after Fernandinho left his leg dangling and Josip Ilicic tripped in the area
Man City 1, Atalanta 1: 34. Raheem Sterling’s cross from 20 yards out for Sergio Aguero was turned in by the Argentine from 4 yards out after he nipped in between two defenders.
Man City 2, Atalanta 1: 38. Sergio Aguero put City into the lead from the penalty spot after Raheem Sterling was tripped by Andrea Masiello
Man City 3, Atalanta 1: 58. Kevin De Bruyne’s change of direction in the Atalanta area took 2 defenders out and he had time to square the ball to Phil Foden who teed up Raheem Sterling to fire into the roof of the net from 6 yards out
Man City 4, Atalanta 1: 64. Raheem Sterling nets his second after cutting inside and slotting into the near post after a long pass from Gundogan set him free down the left flank.
Man City 5, Atalanta 1: 69. Sergio Aguero had a shot saved by Gollini before Sterling netted his hat trick after he volleyed in Riyad Mahrez’s cross from 4 yards out for his hat trick.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 5, Atalanta 1
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Rodri (Stones 41), Mendy (Cancelo 72), Gundogan, De Bruyne (Otamendi 67), Foden, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Jesus, Bernardo Silva, David Silva
Bookings: Mendy 3 (sliding in on Josip Ilicic); De Bruyne 63 (flying elbow); Foden 76 (grappling Ruslan Malinovskyi); Otamendi 90+1 (sliding in on Luis Muriel)
Red Card: Foden 83 (second booking after foul on Marten de Roon)
Goals: Aguero 34, 38 pen; Sterling 58, 64, 69
Atalanta BC: Gollini, Toloi, Djimsiti, Masiello (Pasalic 88), Castagne, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens, Malinivskyi, Ilicic (Hateboer 72), Gomez (Muriel 46)
Atalanta BC Subs not used: Sportiello, Arana, Ibanez, Barrow
Booking: Masiello 10 (sliding in on Kevin De Bruyne)
Goal: Malinovskyi 28 pen
Referee: Orel Grinfeld