Sterling rescues Manchester City

Manchester City’s sloppiest display of the Champions League brought plenty of reasons to be cheerful for Pep Guardiola.

A 1-0 win over Feyenoord yesterday, sealed by Raheem Sterling’s 88th-minute goal, clinched top spot in Group F with a game to spare, meaning City can rest key players for their trip to Shakhtar Donetsk in the final match day.

That comes four days before what will be the most high-profile match of the English Premier League, a derby against Manchester United.

City’s fifth straight victory in the group kept the team on course to become the first from England to complete the group stage with maximum points. That feat has been achieved by only six sides in the competition’s 25-year history.

Then there was the sight of two teenagers, Phil Foden (17) and Brahim Diaz (18), making their Champions League debuts as late substitutes — much to the delight of City fans, who have been waiting for the club’s muchtouted academy to bring through players for the first team.

BRINK OF QUALIFICATION

This was not the same City that was knocking over allcomers in the Premier League, with 11 wins and 40 goals from 12 games, or that beat Napoli home and away to move to the brink of qualification heading into the game against Feyenoord.

But it was maybe to be expected. Guardiola made seven changes to his team from its most recent Premier League game and the Dutch visitors sat deep for most of the match, defending stoutly.

“It was so difficult, so complicated to find the space,” Guardiola said. “Sometimes it happens.”

Feyenoord couldn’t hold out, though, as Ilkay Gundogan threaded a superb through-ball to Sterling, who lifted his finish over goalkeeper Brad Jones for the 11th goal of what is set to be the most prolific season of the winger’s career.

With Napoli beating secondplace Shakhtar 3-0, City would have already been assured of first place anyway. However, Sterling’s goal secured a 17th successive win for unbeaten City in all competitions this season.