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A brace from Sergio Aguero and hat-trick from Raheem Sterling helped Manchester City waltz past Atalanta in their Champions League Group C encounter.
Atalanta started the game quickly, carving out a couple of great chances in the first half. However, the lack of an end product meant they failed to pull away from the hosts. After going behind to a Ruslan Malinovskyi penalty, Manchester City hit back in spectacular fashion with a couple of quick goals.
They carried that momentum into the second half, terrorizing the Atalanta defence and churning out a whole host of chances.
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Sterling continued his fine run of form, netting a second-half hat-trick to cap off what was a stellar display from the 24-year-old. With the win, the Sky Blues extend their lead at the top of their group to five points, while all but sealing Atalanta's fate in the competition as well.
On that note, here's a look at five of the biggest talking points from City's 5-1 victory over Atalanta.
#1 One half, two penalties, three goals
A pulsating first half was punctuated by two penalties, one awarded to each team. Shortly before the half-hour mark, Josip Ilicic was brought down in the box by a clumsy and rather silly challenge from Fernandinho. Ruslan Malinovskyi stepped up and sent Ederson the wrong way, prompting cheers from the tiny travelling contingent.
However, their joy was shortlived as, following City's equaliser just six minutes later, Andrea Masiello lunged in on Raheem Sterling, sending the Englishman to the turf and leaving the referee with no option other than to point to the spot.
Sergio Aguero made no mistake, netting his second goal of the night and propelling City into the lead in a half that the visitors dominated.
#2 City end Italian hoodoo; Pep Guardiola maintains impeccable record
Prior to this contest, Manchester City had won just one of their five previous matches against Italian opposition at home in the Champions League. This might have played on their mind in the early going as they struggled to impose their game on the visitors.
However, after Sergio Aguero got them back on level terms in the first half, Pep Guardiola's side dominated proceedings. The Cityzens managed to net four more over the course of the game, bringing an end to their Italian jinx at home.
Meanwhile, City boss Guardiola maintained his stranglehold over Italian opposition. The Spaniard has lost just one of his 15 Champions League meetings with Italian opponents. Following a 3-1 defeat to Inter way back in 2010, Guardiola's sides have remained unbeaten in their last 12 outings against sides from Italy.
#3 Atalanta's profligacy in front of goal proves costly
Atalanta entered this contest as firm underdogs, but that did not stop them from taking the fight to the Premier League champions. Atalanta dominated the opening exchanges, controlling proceedings with quick transitions and fluent build-up play.
The Italian side had a whole host of opportunities in the first half but failed to make use of them. First up, Josip Ilicic was sent through on goal courtesy a brilliant reverse pass from Malinovskyi that took as many as three City defenders out of the picture.
However, Ilicic's touch let him down and the chance went begging. Rather than getting discouraged, the wasted opportunity seemed to spur Atalanta on as they continued to hit City on the break.
Just minutes later, Timothy Castagne found himself in acres of space but couldn't keep his header down, sending the ball sailing into the stands from just six yards out. While Atalanta did manage to take the lead a few minutes later, the missed chances surely cost them dearly.
The Italian side have racked up three losses on the trot and lie bottom of Group C, staring down the barrel of a humiliating group-stage exit. While they do still have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the round of 16, it would take a miraculous effort to spark any kind of turnaround from here.
#4 Sergio Aguero celebrates milestone in style
Sergio Aguero kitted up for the 100th time in the Champions League and marked the occasion with a couple of well-taken goals. Despite being shackled early on by some smart Atalanta defending, Aguero grew into the game as it progressed.
He netted City's equaliser in the 34th minute, getting on the end of a sublime ball from Raheem Sterling. The two would link up once again just a few minutes later, as Sterling was felled in the penalty box, sending Aguero to the spot.
The Argentine made no mistake as he rifled the ball into the bottom corner, past the despairing dive of Pierluigi Gollini. The two goals were Aguero's 60th and 61st in the Champions League and he could not have asked for a better way to celebrate his 100th cap.
#5 The Raheem Sterling show
Raheem Sterling has improved leaps and bounds in the past few years and that was evident in his performance tonight. The Englishman ran rings around the Atalanta defenders and was involved in each of Manchester City's five goals.
He began proceedings by delivering a beautifully weighted ball to Sergio Aguero, who tapped home to draw the hosts level. Sterling was then brought down for the penalty that Aguero converted to give City the lead. Despite a fine performance in the first half, it was in the second half that Sterling truly gave a demonstration of his abilities.
Often criticized in the past for his profligacy in front of goal, Sterling silenced his critics in style as he netted an 11-minute hat-trick in the second half. In the process, Sterling became just the 8th English player to score a Champions League hat-trick.
