Sharjah24 – WAM: Manchester City produced a devastating attacking display yesterday to beat Sporting 5-0 in the first leg of Champions League last 16 tie.
Bernardo Silva scored a brace, with Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling on target as City became the first team in the competition’s history to win five consecutive away games in the knockout stages.
Mahrez opened the scoring in the seventh minute, tapping Kevin De Bruyne’s cutback into an empty net to give City a dream start.
It got even better 10 minutes later when Bernardo showed outstanding technique to fire a half-volley in off the underside of the crossbar, before Foden stole in between two defenders to guide a Mahrez cross home at the near post.
Bernardo added a fourth, via a heavy deflection off Goncalo Inacio, a minute before half-time to put the result on the night beyond doubt, but City weren’t done.
Sterling rivalled the Portuguese midfielder in the scoring stakes as he curled a superb 20-yard effort into the top corner to move into the top 10 on City’s list of all-time highest goalscorers.
City host Sporting in the second leg of last 16 tie on Wednesday 9 March.