FC Schalke 04 2-3 Manchester City: 5 Talking Points

#1 Sane and Sterling to City's rescue

Sane's excellent free-kick strike set the tone for City's rapid comeback late on

This was always going to be an emotional return for Leroy Sane. After all, he spent eight years at Schalke during his academy years and made his senior breakthrough for S04 - so regardless of the result, he'd receive a warm reception from the home faithful.

Among the substitutes' bench on this occasion, he made his introduction after 77 minutes replacing Aguero. It was somewhat of a surprising alteration as it wasn't like-for-like, though it didn't take long for the 23-year-old to make his mark against his former club.

Sterling was upended by midfielder Suat Serdar and Sane stepped up to take the free-kick, one from a considerable distance, around 30 yards out in the 84th minute.

Almost identical to his excellent effort against Hoffenheim in the group stages earlier this term, he struck powerfully with the right power and dip on his left-foot before watching it fly into the top corner. Despite Fahrmann's best efforts, he was helpless to stop his compatriot's superb strike.

Sterling, who shone in stages and was constantly a threat down the left-hand side, turned matchwinner in the 90th minute after Ederson's long pass set him through. He still had to work to do: staying onside before out-muscling Bastian Oczipka and racing away to slot beyond an onrushing Fahrmann, who seemingly froze as the Englishman made no mistake to tap into the bottom corner.

The pair have struck up quite a fearsome partnership in recent months and in another game where City had to dig deep, Sane and Sterling stepped up once again.

Stats' source: WhoScored