Raheem Sterling 'brilliant' as Manchester City hammer Atalanta to take control of Champions League group

England forward set up two and scored the other three in a 5-1 win at the Etihad

Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden celebrate after Sterling scores Manchester City's fourth goal against Atalanta. AFP

Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring Manchester City's fourth goal against Atalanta. AFP

Raheem Sterling completes his hat-trick against Atalanta. AFP

Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring Manchester City's fourth goal against Atalanta. AP Photo

Raheem Sterling celebrates after completing his hat-trick. AFP

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Raheem Sterling. AFP

Raheem Sterling scores his first and Manchester City's third goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Phil Foden receives a red card. EPA

Sergio Aguero scores Manchester City's second goal from the penalty spot. AP Photo

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal. EPA

Sergio Aguero scores Manchester City's first goal. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal. Getty Images

Pep Guardiola hailed the "brilliant" performance of Raheem Sterling after the England forward scored a hat-trick and assisted the other two goals in a 5-1 Champions League win over Atalanta on Tuesday night.

After falling behind to a Ruslan Malinovskiy penalty in the 28th minute, City proceeded to dominate their Italian opponents, with Aguero scoring twice in four first-half minutes - the second from the penalty spot.

The second half became the Sterling show as the 24-year-old claimed an 11-minute hat-trick to lead the English champions to a comprehensive win which solidified their place at the top of Group C.

City's teenage midfielder Phil Foden again impressed after being given a rare start but was sent off for two bookable offences in the 82nd minute.

"It was a really good result. The way Atalanta played created that," City manager Guardiola told BT Sport. "It was man to man all over the stadium, it was not comfortable, we're not used to playing against these teams.

"It was no surprise Atalanta finished third last season in Italy and even this season, they're playing well, so it's an incredible result. It's three more points. One more win and we'll be in the next stage."

Atalanta showed admirable ambition in the opening stages and were rewarded on 28 minutes. Malinovsky converted the penalty after Fernandinho had brought down Josip Ilicic just inside the box.

If City were rattled by going behind, they did not show it and instead lifted the tempo of their play.

They were level six minutes later when Sterling's magnificent cross was turned into the net from close-range by Aguero for his 60th goal in 100 European appearances.

Sterling won a penalty when his surging run was illegally stopped by defender Andrea Masiello for the second clear spot-kick of the night.

Aguero drilled the ball low into the left-hand corner for the lead, but the half ended on a sour note when City’s makeshift centre-back Rodri limped off with a hamstring problem to be replaced by John Stones.

Sterling got the goal his performance richly deserved on 58 minutes as Kevin De Bruyne picked out Foden in the box and the latter's lay-off was easy for the winger to finish.

Five minutes later and he had another. Played into space on the left, he turned inside the covering defender and provided an emphatic finish, before his hat-trick was complete when he poked home a Riyad Mahrez cross from close-range.

Sterling should have had a fourth too when Foden’s excellent pass sent him clear on goal, but he put the ball the wrong side of the post.

"Raheem was brilliant. He could have scored one more. Not just with the ball, without the ball, he helps us a lot," Guardiola said.