Sporting vs Man City LIVE: Champions League result and final score after stunning Raheem Sterling goal
Sporting Lisbon 0-5 Manchester City: Follow live reaction after City put one foot in the quarter-finals with a big first-leg win
Follow live reaction from the Champions League after Manchester City cruised to an away victory at Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
City, who are again favourites to win the Champions League title, made a perfect start in Portugal as Riyad Mahrez steered the Premier League side ahead after eight minutes.
The goal was given after a lengthy VAR check, with the opener being initially disallowed due to an offside in the build-up, but it was finally awarded to give Mahrez a ninth goal in as many games.
City doubled their lead on 17 minutes as Bernardo Silva guided a stunning half-volley off the underside of the crossbar from a corner to put the visitors in full control of the tie.
Phil Foden put City three up on 32 minutes as the visitors continued to dominate, with Bernardo adding City’s fourth shortly before half-time.
Bernardo had a header disallowed for offside after the break as he was denied a hat-trick, but Raheem Sterling added their fifth with a sublime shot into the top corner.
Follow live reaction from the Champions League fixture below:
Half-time: Sporting Lisbon 0-4 Man City
Bernardo Silva is having a cracking season and he’s extending it in Portugal.
Two goals so far for the ex-Benfica man with the first of the pair showing his exquisite technique.
He hasn’t only been great in front of goal but he has also shown his leadership. Laporte could have received a yellow but Silva calmed him down to avoid any punishment.
But it’s his goals which will be remembered, have a look at this cracker:
Half-time: Sporting Lisbon 0-4 Man City
A stadium rife with noise just over 45 minutes ago has been stunned into silence by a dominant City performance.
Mahrez and Silva’s early openers weren’t enough to quell the threat from Sporting. But City weathered the short storm form the hosts and capitalised through Foden and again with Silva.
If Sporting aren’t careful this scoreline could get embarrassing. They need a tighter backline, better communication and clarity in their last attacking touch to keep themselves in this.
One thing is for sure, City are hungry for more.
GOAL! Sporting Lisbon 0-4 Man City (Silva, 44’)
Oh my god, they’ve scored again!
Just as I was criticising Cancelo he does something amazing. He was searching for Sterling with a chip over the top and the star crossed the ball to Silva.
He tapped it home and Adan should’ve done better to stop it.
Three minutes injury time.
43’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Man City
Foden is hungry for goals this evening. First he had a hand in the first score, he then scored himself and he just ran a beautiful line but Adan was there to collect the ball.
City then won a free kick as Sarabia fouled Stones but they had to build their attack from their own half.
But they didn’t get far as Cancelo gave away a free kick for Sporting. The City star has had a few mistakes this evening, losing possession a couple of times.
39’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Man City
They say shoot for the stars but I don’t think they mean that literally Porro...
The player had the ball in the midfield and took a shot with the attempt going miles over the bar.
You do have to feel for Sporting, they still looked bright after the first two goals but it seems the third has signed away their gusto.
City continue to battle for their fourth.
35’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Man City
When City smell blood they don’t stop the suffering they pile on the pressure. They may be 3-0 up but since Foden’s goal they’ve had two shots on target from Sterling and De Bruyne.
The England star’s punt has been a real momentum decider with Sporting easily giving up possession. The stadium which was deafening just five minutes ago is now a silent saloon.
A short break in play as Foden goes down from a challenge.
GOAL! Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Man City (Foden, 31’)
That was too easy for Foden.
Mahrez did some great work on the rught hand side to work his way round Sporting’s defence. His hard work saw a pass come in for Foden with only one player and the keeper to beat.
A simple tap in see City 3-0 up and that’s the game done inside 35 minutes.
31’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Man City
Laporte has had a talking to from the referee for a challenge on Paulinho. It looked as though the officials were going to hand him a yellow with Laporte stomping away from officials. But Silva made sure his teammate went and spoke to the ref to limit the damage and no card was shown.
This match has felt breathless so far with no respite. City have managed to retain the ball more in recent minutes to quell the Sporting threat but despite the scoreboard it doesn’t feel like the game is done.
The nerves among the City side are being highlighted by Guardiola’s constant orders being shouted onto the pitch.
27’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Man City
Guardiola isn’t allowing City to slip here, yelling his orders from the touchline as Sporting look to get a foot into this match.
The last few minutes have seen a few errors from City but none big enough to cancel out their goals.
Stones had to come to the rescue as Sarabia looked to shoot. The defender tapped the ball out of range of Sarabia to Ederson. The keeper did well to read the play.
Sporting still in attack and they aren’t allowing the early goals to throw them off.
23’ - Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Man City
Porro had three attempts at goal with the ball continually rebounding back into his path but he can’t quite get the shot away.
And how oh how has Gonçalves not scored? Rodri had a howler of a pass which opened an opportunity up for Sporting’s star man but he took too long to get the shot away. Cancelo did well to close him down.
They are throwing everything at City at the moment.
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