Manchester City 5-1 Atalanta: 5 Talking Points as 5-star City dismantle hapless Atalanta | UEFA Champions League 2019-20

#5 The Raheem Sterling show

Manchester City v Atalanta: Group C - UEFA Champions League

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.