Manchester City 5-1 Atalanta
Manchester City won their third successive Champions League fixture tonight with a Raheem Sterling master-class in a 5-1 hammering of Atalanta.
Sterling made one and scored three in a scintillating display, while Sergio Aguero helped himself to a brace. Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta went a goal up and then were simply blown away in a second half in which Sterling scored his 11-minute hat-trick.
The latest Champions League 2019 betting odds here at SBOBET have Manchester City as clear favourites to win the competition at odds of 3.50, though Pep Guardiola is still playing down his team’s chances. But I Nerazzurri have an uphill struggle now, and need to win two of their remaining three games to have a prayer.
Highlights of the game
With little idea of what was to come the Italians made a bright start and Josep Ilicic had a great chance when Ruslan Malinovsky’s through ball put him in on goal, but he was hesitant and Fernandinho made the clearance. Timothy Castagne came closer when he beat Benjamin Mendy to a Robin Gosen cross but his header from close range flew over the bar.
Ilicic had another opportunity when he beat Rodri, but Ederson saved to his left with ease. While Atalanta lacked a cutting edge in these opening exchanges, City have an attack which is the envy of world football.
And in the Premier League top scorer Sergio Aguero they have one of the very best. He cut inside Rafael Toloi and his shot was curling towards the top corner until Pierluigi Gollini stretched to make a breathtaking save.
When the opener came it was Ilicic again at the heart of the action, felled by Fernandinho as he jinked his way into the penalty area. Malinovsky made no mistake from the spot, sending Ederson the wrong way.
That was all City needed to shock them into action, and within ten minutes they had turned the game on its head. First Sterling floated a cross over the Atalanta defence and that man Aguero was there to tap home the equaliser.
And then on the 37th minute, Sterling made another dangerous run into the box and was tripped by Masiello. The referee had no hesitation in giving his second penalty of the night, and up stepped Aguero to smash the ball past Gollini and into the corner of the net.
City received a blow when Rodri appeared to pull a hamstring and was replaced at centre back by the returning John Stones, but they didn’t have much defending to do in the second half.
It was City at their brilliant best. Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected shot was saved by Gollini, on 55 minutes but then the floodgates opened.
The Sky Blues had daylight on 58 minutes when De Bruyne burst down the right wing and crossed for Sterling to fire home his first. And he bagged his second and City’s fourth just five minutes later — beating Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi all ends up –before sliding the ball past the keeper.
And four became five for City as Sterling hit his hat-trick on 69 minutes. Aguero almost beat him to it but his shot was saved by Gollini, and when Riyad Mahrez turned the ball back into the danger area Sterling gleefully converted.
Sterling could have had four but screwed his shot wide when clean through on goal and then Phil Foden got in on the act, but not how he’d like by taking an early bath after he picked up two yellow cards in six minutes.
Key statistics
Manchester City’s big players certainly showed what they can do!
Sergio Aguero scored twice in his 100th appearance in European football, only to be upstaged by Raheem Sterling.
His hat-trick and tonight’s assist mean that, since his Champions League debut in 2015, he has scored 18 goals and made ten assists in the competition. And tonight he notched his 12th goal in 13 games for City this season.
It’s not such good news for Atalanta though. They are the first Italian side to lose their first three Champions League matches.
In other Champions League 2019 news, tonight’s Group C clash between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb ended in a 2-2 draw, which all means that City have a five point lead at the top, while Atalanta is cut adrift.
What’s next?
After a shock Premier League defeat to Wolves, the Sky Blues got back on track with a win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last time out which reduced the gap to leaders Liverpool to six points.
Their next two league games are at home to Aston Villa and Southampton, while the Reds face Spurs. That could be a tricky game after Mauricio Pochettino’s team hammered Crvena Zvezda 5-0 tonight with Harry Kane in amongst the goals.
Atalanta need to put this behind them now. They are performing well, as Serie A top scorers and without a league loss since early September, and next up they are at home to mid-table Udinese.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
