Manchester City vs Monaco as it happened: Sergio Aguero scores a brace as City come out on top

Relive Manchester City's heroic comeback in their eight-goal thriller against Monaco

Tiemoue Bakayoko vies for the ball with David Silva at the Etihad Stadium (Getty)

Sergio Aguero struck twice as Manchester City fought back to beat Monaco 5-3 in a sensational Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City trailed 2-1 at half-time and 3-2 after an hour of a pulsating last 16 first leg encounter but finished with a flourish to peg back the exhilarating Ligue 1 leaders.

Radamel Falcao scored two and missed a penalty for the visitors while teenage star Kylian Mbappe also got on the scoresheet.

But City, who took an early lead through Raheem Sterling and were controversially denied a penalty themselves, roused themselves when it mattered with late goals from John Stones and Leroy Sane securing victory.

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[21 February 2017 18:56 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Tonight's teams

Manchester City (4-3-3): Caballero; Fernandinho, Otamendi, Stones, Sagna; Yaya Toure, De Bruyne, David Silva; Sane, Sterling, Aguero.

Subs: Bravo, Zabaleta, Fernando, Nolito, Navas, Delph, Iheanacho.

Monaco (4-4-2): Subasic; Sidibe, Glik, Raggi, Mendy; Fabinho, Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva, Lemar; Mbappe, Falcao.

Subs: De Sanctis, Dirar, Moutinho, Carrillo, Germain, Diallo, Almamy Toure.

Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahox (Spain).

[21 February 2017 18:59 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

No space in Manchester City's squad for club captain Vincent Kompany, then.

The Belgian defender is still recovering from the knee-injury he picked up against Crystal Palace in November and so City line-up with Otamendi and Stones in the middle of their defence.

Guardiola has also decided to stick with back-up goalkeeper Willy Caballero, with summer signing Claudio Bravo remaining on the bench. 

[21 February 2017 19:00 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

And while we're on the topic of Manchester City defenders...

[21 February 2017 19:06 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

A worrying start to the evening for Manchester City...

It looks as though Sergio Aguero has got lost en route to the Etihad Stadium and wandered straight into the Death Star.

[21 February 2017 19:11 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Pep Guardiola has been in a combative mood ahead of this match and claimed that the whole of Europe was waiting for his team to slip up tonight at home to Monaco.

"All of Europe will watch us, to analyse us, to kill us if we don't win or say how good we are if we do win," he said. "That is the huge experience. It is beautiful to me.

"The Champions League is one of the most beautiful competitions to play. Maybe not the most important, but the most beautiful."

[21 February 2017 19:23 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Kevin de Bruyne has been speaking ahead of the match:

We're going to do what we always do. We have our own style and we won't change.

That's our strength and ultimately we're going to play the way that we want to play, put Monaco under pressure.

We know it's not going to be easy, it's going to be difficult, but we'll be doing our best to impose our game.

[21 February 2017 19:30 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

A look at tonight's teams in formation: 

[21 February 2017 19:37 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

  ↵There's plenty of potential Premier League talent on display tonight, with Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar and Fabinho all linked with English clubs in recent weeks.

Fabinho's been at the centre of the most intense speculation, however, after his father this week said that a number of clubs have made contact with Monaco over signing his son - including this evening's opponents Manchester City.

"We have talked to Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal ... We have even been approached by Barcelona, but it didn't go any further," Fabinho’s father Joao told French journalists.

[21 February 2017 19:41 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Pep Guardiola has just been interviewed live on BT Sport:

It will be a good match and we know that they score a lot of goals. We will see, but I think it will be a good game.

Monaco attack with a lot of people, with the wingers playing inside and very strong full-backs who can go up and down many times. They will look to attack us with runs in behind, they are so quick.

It is a tough draw, but we will try.

[21 February 2017 19:43 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

It's almost time. The two teams walk out onto the pitch, Monaco led by Falcao, City by Silva.

And then the Champions League anthem, which the City fans loudly boo. I don't think that will ever stop being amusing.