UEFA Champions League: Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon Play Out to a Goalless Draw, City Make the Final 8

• Manchester City have become the second English team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League
• Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon drew 0-0 on the night but Manchester City still won on aggregate
• Manchester City had numerous chances to kill off the tie but could not score on the night against Sporting Lisbon

Manchester City have progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

City drew 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon but still qualified for the next round thanks to their 5-0 drubbing of the Portuguese side in Portugal. During the game, Manchester City didn’t look like a team that were five goals ahead in the tie, as they pushed forward constantly.

In a game that Sports Brief monitored, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling arguably had City’s best chances in the first half, as they threatened the Sporting Lisbon goal but never really tested Antonio Adán in goal.

FA Cup: Crystal Palace advances to quarterfinals after difficult encounter with Stoke City in London

Football

In the 23rd minute, Jesus fed a ball across the goal towards Sterling but the Englishman could not get onto the end of it. Ten minutes later Phil Foden had a shot on goal but it was comfortably dealt with by Adán.

In the 39th minute, Sterling had another chance as Foden’s delightful through ball found him sprinting towards goal. Sterling tried to cleverly chip the onrushing Adán but the Sporting Lisbon keep was wise to the shot and managed to catch it. Both teams went in level at the break.

In the second half, City brought on Riyad Mahrez and 19-year-old James McAtee. Mahrez almost made an immediate impact as he did well to control a delightful ball by Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Algerian burst through the box and fed Jesus who scored. City’s celebration was short-lived as the goal was chalked off as offside.

City continued to press forward and Jesus soon forced another save out of Adán. Mahrez also pressured the Sporting Lisbon defence but could not find a goal.

Jubilation at Oshodi Under Bridge as sensational ‘Area Boy’ defeats Canadian High Commissioner in chess game

Other Sports

Sporting never really threatened the City goal and their English player, Michael Edwards, had the best chance but his shot/cross rolled gently towards Edison.

City then made one of the stranger calls seen in the champions league of late. In the 73rd minute, they brought on veteran goalkeeper, Scott Carson. Carson, who is now 36, got his first taste of Champions League football since he last played for Liverpool in the 2004/05 season. Minutes after coming on, it looked like he would have to be replaced as he collided with Paulinho. Both Paulinho and Carson would pick themselves up after a few minutes.

The rest of the half flew by with both teams trying to get a goal. Mahrez looked the most likely to grab a winner for City and Sterling had a shot wide with the last kick of the game, but the match ended 0-0.

Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates in Soweto Derby, Amakhosi score late to claim league double over Buccaneers

Football

UEFA Champions League: Manchester City squad hit by injuries, still favourites to dispatch of Sporting Lisbon

Manchester City welcome Sporting Lisbon to the Etihad Stadium in the UEFA Champions League, favourites to progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament. City already holds a five-goal advantage from the first leg and will be looking to see the tie out, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Manchester City go into the second leg knowing that Sporting Lisbon needs a miracle to win the tie, SkySports reported. City thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in Portugal, thanks to a brace from Bernardo Silva as well as goals from Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden.

City will be thankful to have a big goal advantage going into the game, as their squad has since been hit with numerous injuries. As reported on the club’s official website, Guardiola confirmed that they only had 14 players available.