Coke impressed as Sterling torments Sevilla

For a player just 20 years of age, up against a team that has won the last two editions of the UEFA Europa League and their last ten home games in UEFA competition, and on only his tenth UEFA Champions League appearance – you would expect some signs of nerves, right?

Not so Raheem Sterling, whose vibrant display in the 3-1 win at Sevilla that confirmed Manchester City's round of 16 place featured the opening goal – his first in the competition – a part in City's second and great chances created for Fernandinho and Wilfried Bony. "The guys up front caused problems for the Sevilla defenders throughout," the Citizens' skipper Vincent Kompany said. "Raheem and Jesús [Navas] were constantly getting behind their back four."

It was a sentiment echoed by the man unfortunate enough to be tasked with dealing with the England winger on Tuesday, Sevilla right-back Coke. "For the first goal I perhaps should have covered the channel a bit more and not pushed up as much, because Sterling's so dangerous with space in front of him," the Sevilla skipper told UEFA.com. "When you're up against players of that calibre it's always tough. He proved what a good player he is."

Coke under pressure from Raheem Sterling©Getty Images

Having taken full advantage of said space to latch onto Fernandinho's defence-splitting pass and finish neatly past Sergio Rico with eight minutes played, Sterling was soon back in the thick of the action. Again afforded space on the left flank, the former Liverpool winger wriggled into the box and drew three men before stretching to prod a cross to Bony, whose shot was palmed skywards by Rico and nodded in by Fernandinho.

Sterling might easily have been credited with two second-half assists, had Fernandinho not shot straight at Rico or Bony dragged an effort wide when well-placed. "Raheem, like the team as a whole, had a very good game and, along with Jesús, he was decisive tonight," said his manager Manuel Pellegrini. "But we mustn't forget the work put in by Fernando, Fernandinho and Yaya [Touré] in midfield, which was superb too. Tonight everything just clicked, in defence and in attack. The whole team performed really well."