Manchester City vs Atalanta LIVE result: Raheem Sterling triples up in Champions League thumping

Champions League group stage draw

Raheem Sterling scored an 11-minute hat-trick and had a hand in all five goals as Manchester City came from behind to thump Italian side Atalanta 5-1 in their Champions League Group C encounter on Tuesday.

Forward Sergio Aguero also scored two in the first half at the City of Manchester Stadium, but England winger Sterling was the star of the show as the home side made it three wins from three to open up a five-point lead at the midway point of the pool.

Atalanta have now lost all three of their group matches in their debut season in the Champions League, but started brightly and had the lead via a Ruslan Malinovsky penalty.

City were ruthless in their response though and drove forward. They finished the game with 10 men after teenager Phil Foden received a second yellow card on 83 minutes.

PA

Here is everything you need to know.

When is it?

Kick-off is at 8pm BST on Tuesday 22nd October.

How can I watch it?

The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 7pm.

Subscribers to BT Sport can watch the game online or on mobile via the BT Sport player and BT Sport app.

Team news

Manchester City might welcome back John Stones to their lineup, with the fit again centre half set to reinforce a problem area. He could partner Nicolas Otamendi, who is over the issue that caused him to miss the Crystal Palace game.

Kyle Walker may be available, too, while Fernandinho could be rested after a busy couple of months as emergency cover in central defence. Phil Foden could feature as he presses for more game time.

Predicted line-up

Manchester City: Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Benjamin Mendy; Rodri, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling.

Odds

Manchester City: 2/9

Draw: 6/1

Atalanta: 12/1

Prediction

Manchester City should have the quality to beat the Italians, but Atalanta are better than their first two Champions League results suggest.

Expect a relatively open game, with Manchester City prevailing 4-2.

Key Points

• Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Rodri, Mendy; Gündogan, Foden, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Agüero.
• Atalanta XI: Gollini; Toloi, Djimsiti, Masiello; Castagne, Freuler, De Roon, Gosens; Malinovskiy; Papu Gomez, Ilicic.

[22 October 2019 19:53 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Man City vs Atalanta, live...

[22 October 2019 19:58 · Callum Rice-Coates]

The teams are out at the Etihad! Just a couple of minutes until kick-off...

[22 October 2019 20:01 · Callum Rice-Coates]

City get us underway!

[22 October 2019 20:04 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

1 minute

A lively start from the visitors, who launch an attack down the left through Gosen, who sends a high, looping cross into the box. Ederson makes a meal of it, dropping the ball. But fortunately for the goalkeeper no Atalanta players are quick enough to react.

[22 October 2019 20:05 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

3 minutes

There is certainly an energy about Atalanta in attack. They come down the left again, this time through Gomez, who sees an attempted cross blocked. City will have to be alert at the back tonight.

[22 October 2019 20:05 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

4 minutes

Mendy picks up an early booking for catching Ilicic nastily with his studs. No complaints there.

[22 October 2019 20:08 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

5 minutes

A real opening for Atalanta comes to nothing as Ilicic is played through in space in the box but miscontrols. The away side look the more threatening so far.

[22 October 2019 20:09 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

7 minutes

City come forward with intent for the first time tonight as Sterling breaks away down the left and sends the ball into the middle. Atalanta deal with it, but the hosts are beginning to control possession now.

[22 October 2019 20:11 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

9 minutes

Atalanta are being given an alarming amount of space on the counter attack. Gosens is set clear down the left with time and space to pull the ball into the box. His ball across is intercepted, though, and City clear.

[22 October 2019 20:11 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Atalanta

10 minutes

Masiello goes into the book for a late challenge on De Bruyne. It could be a long night for the defender now.