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Attendance: 49,308
Manchester City logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Atalanta logo

5-1

Aguero (34', 38' pen.), Sterling (58', 64', 69')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Malinovskiy (28' pen.)

Pep Guardiola: 'Extraordinary Raheem Sterling can get even better'

Sergio Aguero also scored a pair of goals for City.

Pep Guardiola hailed Raheem Sterling after the England forward struck a quickfire hat-trick in Manchester City’s 5-1 Champions League demolition of Atalanta.

Sterling struck three times in 11 minutes after Sergio Aguero had earlier netted twice to cancel out Ruslan Malinovskyi’s penalty opener at the Etihad Stadium.

The result took City five points clear at the top of Group C and within touching distance of the last 16 with three games still to play.

There were downsides for City with Phil Foden sent off and Rodri injured, but Sterling’s scintillating display, which included providing the assist for Aguero’s first and winning the penalty for his second, stole the headlines.

City boss Guardiola said: “All the credit is for him. He’s a guy whose physicality is incredible. He is so strong.

“A day after a game, he could play another. His regeneration is incredible and he can play both sides. He is an extraordinary player.”

Manchester City v Atalanta – UEFA Champions League – Group C – Etihad Stadium
Pep Guardiola expects Raheem Sterling to get even better (Martin Rickett/PA)

Guardiola was asked at his post-match press conference if 24-year-old Sterling, who has improved season-on-season under the former Barcelona coach, could still get even better.

He said: “It depends on him, his desire, and I think he has that – the desire to be better.”

Guardiola feels City now have one foot in the knockout stages.

He said: “It was a really tough game against a really tough opponent. It was an incredible effort because they have a lot of quality.

“That is why I am so satisfied with the result. Three more points in the next game and we will be in the next stage.”

Manchester City v Atalanta – UEFA Champions League – Group C – Etihad Stadium
Guardiola felt Phil Foden impressed despite his dismissal (Martin Rickett/PA)

Guardiola also had praise for Foden, who aside from his dismissal for two yellow cards late in the game, turned in a fine performance.

He said: “For Phil what is important is not the red card but how he played. He played a high level, he is an incredible player.”

Foden’s bookings, particularly his first, seemed harsh but Guardiola did not complain.

He said: “He will learn. He will know after one yellow card the need to be more careful.”

Guardiola was asked if the 19-year-old might be fined for his indiscipline.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “We should pay him for the way he played.”

Rodri was helped from the field with a hamstring injury late in the first half.

Guardiola is optimistic the problem is not serious.

He said: “I think it will be 10 days but if it’s broken (torn), it will be three weeks.”

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was frustrated the visitors failed to build on their good start.

Norwich City v Atalanta – Pre-Season Friendly – Carrow Road
Gian Piero Gasperini was disappointed his side failed to build on their fast start (Joe Giddens/PA)

He said: “It’s a heavy defeat and the big disappointment is that we managed to score first.

“City are a great side but we should have done better and we could have scored more goals.

“My players did some good things, which we can build on, but of course, City are devastating with some space.”

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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Inter Milan541013
2Barcelona540112
3Liverpool440012
4Atalanta532011
5Arsenal531110
6B. Leverkusen531110
7Brest531110
8Monaco431010
9Sporting Lisbon531110
10Aston Villa43019
11Dortmund43019
12Bayern53029
13AC Milan53029
14Atletico53029
15Man City52218
16Juventus42117
17Lille42117
18Celtic42117
19Dinamo Zagreb42117
20Feyenoord52127
21Benfica42026
22Real Madrid42026
23Brugge42026
24PSV41215
25Stuttgart51134
26Sparta Prague51134
27PSG51134
28Shakhtar41124
29Sturm Graz51043
30Girona51043
31Red Star51043
32Salzburg51043
33Bologna40131
34RB Leipzig50050
35Slovan Bratislava50050
36Young Boys50050


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