Manchester City 5-3 Monaco: Sergio Aguero scores twice in Champions League classic – 5 things we learned

Manchester City fought back to beat Monaco 5-3 on a breathless night at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s men trailed 2-1 at the break in the Champions League last-16 tie before a quite incredible second half.

Raheem Sterling had put City ahead before Radamel Falcao, who also missed a penalty, and Kylian Mbappe turned it around.

Sergio Aguero levelled things up again before a stunning chip from Falcao put Monaco back in front.

But City somehow came back to score three times as Aguero, John Stones and Leroy Sane struck.

Here are five things we learned from a Champions League classic.

1. City can thrill us all to glory

We will never know just how City won this game, having been overrun at times by a remarkable Monaco performance.

But City refused to buckle and give up in a game which must go down as one of the greatest games the Champions League has ever seen.

It was amazing, the defending awful, the goals much better and City proved, despite their frailties, that they can score goals.

Maybe, just maybe, they can surprise us all because with goals and a determination they can perhaps shock the whole of Europe. Or at least thrill us.

2. Monaco are fabulous

Monaco are looking down on PSG from the top of the French league, having scored 76 goals from 26 games.

Their manager Leonardo Jardim is quickly becoming one of the hottest properties in European football thanks to Monac’s open and attacking style.

And it’s little wonder as you underestimate Monaco at your peril.

Tottenham did and they were knocked out in the Group stages.

There was comfortably enough in Monaco’s performance to show they are a top quality side and a huge opponent for Manchester City.

3. City’s persecution complex will only get worse

Pep Guardiola sounded rather paranoid when he claimed Manchester City would get “killed” if they did not get through. Maybe, but that’s only because expectation levels immediately rose when Guardiola took charge.

Sometimes Guardiola sounds paranoid when he claims City are always hard done by on refereeing decisions.

But this time you can only sympathise with Guardiola because, at 1-1, Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz made the most bizarre decision.

Sergio Aguero raced through, was upended by Monaco keeper Daniel Subasic and it looked as if the referee was about to give a penalty.

Instead, Lahoz booked Aguero for diving. Upon these decisions, games are won and lost.

4. Sterling is City’s Mr. Nasty

Here’s an unlikely statistic – Raheem Sterling has been booked 11 times this season, has been shown a yellow card in the last five games and will now miss the second leg after being cautioned for dissent.

While no-one is looking to condone bad behaviour, the streak of devil is a good thing for Sterling because he is more aggressive, more dangerous and it shows in his play.

Sterling scored the opener, his form has dramatically improved as he looks more incisive and fiery.

It was Sterling who drove forward from deep to set up City’s second goal. He always wants the ball which is a sign of his improved confidence and belief.

5. Mbappe is the new Henry

Monaco’s prodigious 18-year-old has been compared to the France World Cup winner for very obvious reasons.

Thierry Henry started at Monaco, was a teenage talent and has pace to burn. Just like Henry, Mbappe likes to drift wide and come inside with his pace and power. He threatened to destroy Nicolas Otamendi.

Mbappe looks really special and is surely destined for the very top.

Player ratings

Manchester City

Caballero 5 – Penalty save some compensation for error that led to Falcao goal

Sagna 5 – Possibly the best City defender, which is not saying much

Otamendi 3 – Given a torrid time by Mbappe, had an absolute shocker

Stones 5 – Has been steadily deteriorating under Pep, completely unconvincing, but scored the winner

Fernandinho 4 – Booked. Not a left-back and did not look like one

Toure 5 – Looked what he is, a veteran trying to fend off years and youngsters

Sane 7 – Brilliant work for Sterling goal, a firm Pep favourite, and got on the scoresheet at the end

Silva 7 – One of the more composed attack-minded City players

De Bruyne 6 – Seemingly unsure on committing himself totally to attacking duties

Sterling 8 – Booked. Timed run for goal well and always wanting to hurt

Aguero 8 (MOTM) – Booked. Should have had a penalty, still lethal

Subs – Zabaleta (Fernandinho, 64 mins) 6, Fernando (Aguero, 86 mins)

Monaco

Subasic 4, Sidibe 6, Glik 6, Raggi 5, Mendy 6, Fabinho 7, Bakayoko 7, Silva 7, Mbappe 8, Lemar 7, Falcao 9