Manchester City 0, Sporting Lisbon 0 (Manchester City win 5-0 on aggregate)
Manchester City cruised into the quarter finals of the Champions League having done all the hard work in the first leg against Sporting Lisbon.
The goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium wasn’t the most thrilling game, especially after City demolished Manchester United on Sunday in the Manchester derby and Sporting were despatched as easily in the first leg.
But there were positive signs for players on the fringes of the first team recently.
Gabriel Jesus made no mistake from close range after Riyad Mahrez, released by a big Oleksandr Zinchenko switch to the right, cut inside along the goal line, lost the ball, won it back and then threaded through to the Brazilian who finished with ease only to be denied a minute later by a VAR check.
And there were Champions League debuts for youngsters Conrad Egan-Riley and James McAtee.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut there was little else of note in the dead rubber aside from veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson making only his second appearance for the club and promptly saving a shot from Paulinho as the game failed to live up to the light show before the kick off or the derby on Sunday.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 0, Sporting Lisbon 0 (Manchester City win 5-0 on aggregate)
Ederson: 6. Well protected by his defence against a relatively thin Sporting attack. Saves in the second half from Bruno Tabata and Marcus Edwards kept him interested.
Conrad Egan-Riley: 6. Unfazed on his Champions League debut for Manchester City and his team mates made sure he was involved. Showed some skill late on too which gave the crowd something to cheer.
John Stones: 6. Relatively left alone to hit long passes. Late interception to protect Scott Carson late on in the game. Had an injury time header loop onto the top of the goal.
Aymeric Laporte: 6. Assaulted by Paulinho as he tried to go for the ball while Sporting were under the cosh.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6. His name was cheered loudly when read out. Steady performance at left back.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Didn’t look under much pressure and mopped up trouble in midfield too. Injury time corner nearly converted by John Stones.
Fernandinho: 7. Plenty of time to spray passes around in midfield.
Bernardo Silva: 7. As busy as ever against the Portuguese club.
Gabriel Jesus: 7. Bit of an untidy start, should have had a penalty after shoved in the back in the area early on but did his defensive shift well and his work rate created openings. Thought he scored early in the second half but was thwarted by VAR, had a shot saved by Antonio Adan too.
Raheem Sterling: 6. Very wasteful night for him. Nearly got on the end of a Jesus cross from the right and tried to chip Antonio Adan but was too close. Contrived to hit the side netting in injury time with just the keeper to beat.
Phil Foden: 7. Led the City press and had the first City shot on goal after 24 minutes and also set up Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus with deft touches.
James McAtee (on for Bernardo Silva, 46): 6. Champions League debut. Some good touches and a bit of on field coaching from Pep Guardiola too.
Riyad Mahrez (on for Phil Foden, 46): 7. Thought he had supplied the opening goal but Jesus’ goal was offside. Was a threat down the right after he came on.
Scott Carson (on for Ederson, 73): 6. Surprisingly on for Ederson and he made a superb save from Paulinho.
Luke Mbete (on for Aymeric Laporte, 84): No time to mark – Champions League debut.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 0, Sporting Lisbon 0 (Manchester City win 5-0 on aggregate)
Man City: Ederson (Carson 73), Egan-Riley, Stones, Laporte (Mbete 84), Zinchenko, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva (McAtee 46), Jesus, Sterling, Foden (Mahrez 46)
Man City subs not used: Carson, Slicker, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Kayky, Delap, Edozie, Mbete
Booking: Jesus 39 (foul on Matheus Reis)
Sporting Lisbon: Adan, Inacio, Coates, Neto (Feddal 89), Porro (Esgalo 78), Ugarte, Tabata, Reis, Sarabia (Edwards 58), Paulinho (Santos 78), Slimani (Ribeiro 89)
Sporting Lisbon subs not used: Paulo, Virginia, Vinagre, Essugo, Veiga
Bookings: Paulinho 14 (foul on Aymeric Laporte), Slimani 40 (elbow in John Stones’ face)
Referee: Umut Meier