Manchester City 5-1 Atalanta: 3 reasons why the Cityzens won | UEFA Champions League 2019/20

The champions of England, Manchester City, hosted Italy's third best outfit, Atalanta, and they had to overcome a lackluster start to brush their Italian guests aside.

Pep Guardiola's men had to come from behind after conceding a penalty in the 28th minute, and goals from Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling proved to be swift as well as robust responses to the question asked by Atalanta early on.

City started very slowly, and Fernandinho conceded a penalty, bringing down Josip Ilicic as Atalanta broke rapidly on a counter. Ruslan Malinovskiy converted from the spot to give the Italian team an early advantage.

Guardiola's men responded a few minutes later, as Raheem Sterling played Sergio Aguero through for the equalizer. Four minutes later, Sterling was hacked in the box and Aguero stepped up to score the resultant penalty.

The Man City goal procession continued in the second half as Sterling was played through by Phil Foden for the third City goal of the evening. Sterling went on to score in the 64th and 69th minutes, completing a hattrick in 11 minutes.

The only blemish on City's wonderful time out was a red card shown to Foden after a second yellow card offense in the 82nd minute.

Here we analyze three reasons why Manchester City beat Atalanta.

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#3 Manchester City too good for Atalanta

Manchester City v Atalanta - Kevin De Bruyne in action

This was a total mismatch on paper, and few doubted the game's result. However, the Italian outfit started the game on the front foot, as they drew first blood. Man City would go on to give Atalanta a rude awakening, thumping them comprehensively.

The Italians have followed up their wonderful performances in the Italian Serie A last season with a woeful UCL campaign. Atalanta sits rock bottom in Group C with 3 losses so far and 11 goals conceded. That's a far cry from City's lofty performances in the Champions League this season, as the English club has brushed aside all comers this term with 9 points and 3 wins so far.

Atalanta may have shocked the old guard in the Italian peninsula last season, but Pep Guardiola's Man City is another ball game entirely.

#2 A swift response from Pep Guardiola's men

Manchester City v Atalanta - Pep Guardiola dishing out instructions

Manchester City uncharacteristically started slowly in this encounter, however, they were jolted into top gear thanks to a goal conceded in the 28th minute.

Six minutes after going behind, a Raheem Sterling lob found Sergio Aguero with just the keeper to beat, and the Argentine tapped the ball home for the equalizer. A few minutes later, Sterling was brought down in the box, and Aguero was on hand to send the ball beyond the reach of Atalanta's Pierluigi Gollini.

Aguero's quickfire first-half brace was just what the doctor ordered, and set the tone for a domineering Man City performance.

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#1 A virtuoso performance from Raheem Sterling

Manchester City v Atalanta - Raheem Sterling celebrates a goal

Raheem Sterling has been receiving plaudits all season for his breathtaking performances for club and country, and against Atalanta, his stellar class was evident for all to see. The former Liverpool man was the Italian side's tormentor in chief, as he hassled the Atalanta backline all game, providing goals as well as scoring a quickfire hattrick (11 minutes).

A few minutes after City conceded in the first-half, Sterling played an exquisite lob to Aguero for the opener. Four minutes after the equalizer, the winger was brought down in the box and was awarded a penalty which Aguero converts for his brace.

The Raheem Sterling show continued in the second half as he received a pass from Phil Foden in the 58th minute and smashed the ball into the net for his 10th goal of the season. In the 64th and 69th minutes of play, Sterling further heaped misery on City's Italian guests by completing a hattrick.

Pep Guardiola had this to say about Sterling's performance:

“He was brilliant, an incredible player. It depends on him how good he can be, but I think he has that desire to get better.”