(Football news) Manchester City have progressed to the quarter finals of the Champions League despite a 0-0 draw against Sporting CP at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s team won the first leg 5-0 and had a relatively comfortable evening against the Portuguese side. In the first half, Raheem Sterling failed to capitalise on a one-on-one opportunity while a goal by Gabriel Jesus was ruled out for offside by the VAR after the break. Sporting were playing for pride and they did a good job by defending resolutely, denying the hosts any opportunity to score.

With a 5-0 lead from the first leg, Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to rotate his squad from the team that defeated Manchester United 4-1. Teenager CJ Egan-Riley was given his Champions League debut at right back while another academy graduate James McAtee displayed an impressive performance after coming off the bench. Back-up goalkeeper Scott Carson made his second Manchester City appearance and was instrumental in denying Paulinho a winning goal with a fine one-on-one save. 

In last month’s first leg, City were in prolific goal scoring form and scored four past Sporting CP in the first half. This time around, the hosts didn’t have as much urgency while Sporting defended as a well organised unit. Gabriel Jesus had a penalty appeal denied after he was shoved by a Sporting defender after a set piece while Sterling went close to scoring and narrowly missed a low cross by Jesus at the far post. Sterling also had the best opportunity of the first half when he attempted to chip over Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan who denied the goal by standing tall.

Guardiola introduced McAtee and Riyad Mahrez for Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden with the objective of injecting some speed in City’s attack. The choice of substitutions almost paid immediate dividends as Mahrez combined with Jesus but the Brazilian’s strike was disallowed, less than two minutes into the second period. It was the visitors who looked more likely to score as Sporting defender Matheus Reis squandered an opportunity by blasting over while Paulinho was denied by Carson. 

City upped the ante in the closing stages as John Stones’ header was narrowly sent over while Sterling’s diagonal shot hit the side netting. Guardiola gave a late cameo to another youngster Luke Mbete when it became evident that City were going through to the quarter finals in the Champions League. 

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