Pep Guardiola’s mean machine marches through Lisbon in an unprecedented style, trashing Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.This two-leg tie was decided almost even before it started, and the return leg, scheduled for March 9, will be nothing but a dead-rubber.The Citizens used to depart Lisbon in the past with a livid face due to the losses mentioned above, but this was whole another story as unplayable Bernardo Silva bagged a brace, and Foden, Sterling and Mahrez added one each for the final outcome.Guardiola’s side seems unstoppable, and it would be a major surprise not to see them going all the way to the finals, looking like the top contender for the title.Pep Guardiola celebrates (©Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)The visitors were furious from the starting block, netting after only seven minutes. Foden made his thing on the left flank executed a superb backpass to Bernardo Silva, whose shot was stopped by Sporting keeper, but De Bruyne got a hold of it and found totally unmarked Mahrez in the middle of the area for 1-0. At first, the goal was disallowed, but the VAR check showed De Bruyne – suspicious for his position during Silva’s strike – was onside.R. Mahrez goal against sporting cp man city 1 vs sporting c.p 0🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/S6d4NMfI5H— Mickelsz Official (@MickelszO) February 15, 2022 The game was killed almost instantly shortly after as defender John Stones ran marvellously to the opposite box in the counter-attack, but his header went inches wide.What he missed, Bernardo Silva didn’t.It was a corner-kick from the right, and the ball reached the far post where the tiny midfielder launched it sensationally right below the crossbar for 2-0. Even on a slow-motion replay, that shot seemed fast-moving, indeed.Bernardo Silva goal ⚽🔥🔥What a hit from the Portuguese attacker 🚀🚀Manchester City 2-0 Sporting CPpic.twitter.com/XtOQKV9Mua— Birdiefootball (@birdiefootball) February 15, 2022 The hosts did try to bounce back, but they were as helpless as it gets, doomed for sweeping, which happened the entire 15 minutes before the half-time break through that Mahrez-Foden axis. The former dribbled on the right before executing a sharp cross, curling it between the three Sporting defenders to reach Foden on the edge of the six-yard box. The youngster reacted with a veteran’s calm to pour in City’s third goal of the match and, basically, decide the entire tie.Manchester city 2 vs sporting c.p 0 phil foden’s goal 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z4PnRfhVyy— Mickelsz Official (@MickelszO) February 15, 2022 Unfortunately for Ruben Amorim’s slot, it was not over yet, not even the first period. The steamroller stormed through the Sporting area once more via Sterling, who made a mess before assisting Bernardo Silva for his second.Bernardo Silva goal for Manchester City against Sporting pic.twitter.com/MAerR8BtI8— Live News (@LiveNewsForAll_) February 15, 2022 The tiny magician couldn’t care less for his compatriots as he found the back of the net as soon as the teams returned from the break, but it was rightfully disallowed for a tiny offside.Anyhow, it was just a prelude for the fifth that was going to stay on the scoreboard. This time the stage was set for Sterling’s brilliance, and the experienced winger fired it smoothly into the far corner to put the cherry on top.OMFG STERLING WHAT A GOAL pic.twitter.com/V9ubnzA6x2— Shaqa 🐣 (@Shaqaham) February 15, 2022 Nevertheless, Sporting fans demonstrated some class by chanting and waving their scarfs until the very final whistle. Demolished but proud.
