Manchester City continued their sensational form as they saw off Napoli 4-2 in Italy to make it four wins from four in Group F and advance to the knockout phase for the fifth season running. Lorenzo Insigne put the Serie A leaders in front, but Nicolas Otamendi headed City level and his fellow centre-back John Stones then scored with a header that went in off the underside of the bar.
A Jorginho penalty restored parity again, but Sergio Aguero made it 3-2 and Raheem Sterling completed the scoring. Aguero’s strike allowed him to become City’s all-time leading scorer on 178 goals, passing the old mark of 177 set by Eric Brook in the 1930s. “What he has achieved has made him a legend, he’s gone down in history, so I would tell him to enjoy,” said City coach Pep Guardiola of Aguero.
Shakhtar Donetsk need just a draw in Naples in three weeks to go through too after beating Feyenoord 3-1. Nicolai Jorgensen headed the Dutch champions into the lead in Kharkiv only for Facundo Ferreyra to equaliser. Marlos, the Brazil-born Ukraine international, then scored twice to secure the victory as Feyenoord are eliminated.
Meanwhile Liverpool moved clear at the top of Group E with a comfortable 3-0 win over Maribor at Anfield. There would be no repeat of their 7-0 romp in the reverse fixture in Slovenia as the Reds had to wait until the 49th minute for Mohamed Salah to give them the lead. James Milner then saw his penalty tipped onto the post but he set up Emre Can to double Liverpool’s lead before substitute Daniel Sturridge completed the scoring.
Liverpool are a point clear of Sevilla, who beat Spartak Moscow 2-1 in Spain, Clement Lenglet and Ever Banega with their goals before Ze Luis pulled one back.
Brief scores:
- Napoli 2 (Insigne 21, Jorginho 62-pen) lost to Manchester City 4 (Otamendi 34, Stones 48, Aguero 69, Sterling 90+2)
