Sterling class ensures City pass Spanish inquisition to progress

IT was long before the end that the raucous Spanish audience, who have seen some talent in their years as a net producer of football diamonds, accepted that they had witnessed a player who had stood on another plain.

They applauded Raheem Sterling as he departed early, after a display which wrapped up qualification for the Champions League group stage and deconstructed the usual untidy narrative about Manchester City and Europe. To have qualified so soon after the clocks have gone back is unprecedented where their torturous four-year Champions League story is concerned, and though Manuel Pellegrini has already ventured into a discussion about how that will help his side domestically, winning a group stage is the target with the journey to Juventus potentially decisive.

It was not merely the partisan environment, including the wall of red flags, which Pellegrini felt would make the night on the banks of the Guadalquivir a challenging one but, he said before kick-off, the possible influence that would have on the Norwegian referee.

His major change, for a stadium where he had lost on seven out of 10 previous visits as a manager, suggested anxiety. A decision to consign Kevin de Bruyne to the bench is not one to be taken lightly, considering the Belgian’s sensitivities.

But the referee’s touch was light and a side whose home record in Europe – 10 successive wins before this – suggested attrition were swamped by City in an opening 20 minutes during which, from an Andalusian perspective, Raheem Sterling was almost unplayable.

One of the Spaniards who run City was privately enthusing late on Monday night about the quality of coaching here in Spain’s deep South. But the way Sterling reduced the 28-year-old captain and defender Coke to a statuesque figure – sweeping ahead of him to receive an angled pass from Fernandinho to slot in an early opening goal – was one of the first knockings of a nightmare for

the 28-year-old Madrileno.

Sterling (right) left the same player way behind again with a nutmeg, four minutes later, and weaved into the area to set up Wilfried Bony whose shot, parried by Sergio Rico, provided the chance for Fernandinho to nod home, again on the angle.

Sterling will not encounter more favourable opposition than this, with the space between the midfield and defensive banks creating space for him to exploit, but the virtuosity – reducing Ever Banega to the ranks of the very ordinary as well – made that £44m transfer fee appear very good business indeed. Coke was withdrawn after 55 minutes and it was certainly not tactical. Humiliation indeed.

There was the worry of the knock Sterling took when supplying the second goal, which left him writhing in agony and requiring attention again 10 minutes later. But the contribution of Fernandinho – surpassing even Sterling in an advanced role behind Bony – added to a rare feeling of City commanding continental soil. Their 16 shots on goal by half-time – Jesus Navas struck the inside of Rico’s post – told its own story.

The suspense which City introduce to their Europe adventures generally entail defensive insecurity, with obligatory Joe Hart heroics, and that element was certainly present again. Fernando Llorente had managed to lever the ball over the bar from close range, with Joe Hart committed, before Coke atoned for his struggles by advancing down the right and crossing for his opposite full-back, Benoit Tremoulinas, to head in unhindered at the back post. Hart also saved sharply from Timothee Kolodziejczak’s header before City re-established their cushion.

Navas cut inside again and pulled the ball back for Bony, who held back to receive the ball and slot in the third. (© Independent News Service)