Manchester City demanded a big performance from Sergio Aguero and the Argentine showed up as they beat Monaco 5-3 in a relentless end-to-end Champions League last 16 first-leg clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Raheem Sterling put City ahead, only for Radamel Falcao, on his return to Manchester, to level before French teenager Kylian Mbappe gave the visitors a go-ahead goal at the start of the second period.
Aguero restored parity moments later following an error from Monaco goalie Danijel Subasic, but Falcao – who earlier fired a penalty straight at Willy Caballero – shot Leonardo Jardim’s side into a stunning 3-2 lead with a magnificent chip from 15 yards.
But City, who for long periods looked headed for a chastening evening – struck three times in the last 19 minutes, through Aguero’s second goal, John Stones and Leroy Sane, to put Pep Guardiola’s men in charge ahead of the return leg at the Principality on March 15.
In the night’s other fixture, Atletico Madrid stunned hosts Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in a rip-roaring encounter to seize control of their Champions League first knockout round ahead of the return leg in Spain next month.
Two rapid counter-attacks in the opening 25 minutes with strikes from Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann put the Spaniards on course for a quarterfinal spot for the ninth time.
Roger Schmidt’s men, who were brutally punished for their high-defensive line, cut the deficit through Karim Bellarabi from inside the box.
But hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when the hapless Aleksandar Dragovic completed a nightmare performance by giving away a penalty that was coolly converted by Atletico’s tormentor in chief, Kevin Gameiro.
Stefan Savic’s own goal put Leverkusen back in the game but despite constant pressure they failed to carve out an equaliser before substitute Fernando Torres ended any speculation with his goal in the 86th minute.
