There was no doubt who this night belonged to. Rico Lewis became Manchester City’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League after marking his first start for the first team with a fine finish to turn this final group game against Sevilla in the home side’s favour.
The 17-year-old equalised after Rafa Mir had given Sevilla a first-half lead, and a magical right-footed Kevin De Bruyne assist — three minutes after coming off the bench — set up Julian Alvarez to nudge City ahead before Riyad Mahrez sealed the victory.
There may have been little to play for, with City guaranteed top spot in this group and Sevilla assured of a place in the Europa League, but this will be an evening that Lewis remembers.
The academy graduate’s assured shot, which the Sevilla ‘keeper couldn’t keep out at his near post, marked the start of City’s turnaround that preserved their proud home European record of 22 games unbeaten. Lewis was a 13-year-old schoolboy the last time City lost a Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium, to Lyon in September 2018.
Story of the game
A much-changed City side had to contend with a far from comfortable first half as inside the opening minute Mir pounced on a mistake by Ruben Dias and streaked towards goal before shooting over wildly. The Sevilla forward later forced Stefan Ortega into a good save before heading wide from a Marcus Acuna cross.
Just past the half-hour mark, Mir made up for earlier prolificacy by losing his marker Sergio Gomez and heading home an Isco delivery from eight yards out. The hundred or so Sevilla supporters, ignoring the lashing rain, rejoiced in seeing their side score. Jorge Sampaoli’s team languish in the relegation zone in La Liga and had only managed 15 goals so far this term.
However, those present in the far from capacity stadium knew that City would come on stronger and Lewis led the way.
It was a patient and characteristic slick City passing move that brought about the equaliser seven minutes into the second half. Alvarez slipped the ball to the right of the Sevilla penalty area where the young right back arrived and finished emphatically from a wide angle to become the youngest player ever to score on a Champions League debut, breaking Karim Benzema’s record.
The goal heralded a run of relentless City pressure, especially when Pep Guardiola threw on Rodri, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne. The Belgian quickly served up an incredibly-weighted pass which was judged to perfection and allowed Alvarez in behind the visitors’ back line. After calmly rounding Bono, the Sevilla ‘keeper, the Argentine planted the ball into the open net for his fifth goal since joining the club.
The summer signing was involved again seven minutes from time as his selfless pass opened a path for Mahrez who made no mistake from just inside the area. More could have came with Bono denying Dias with a strong one-handed save and then halting Phil Foden in injury time. But City had their win and Lewis, a night to remember.
Player of the match: Rico Lewis
The teenager took his goal well to bring City back into the game and led to him becoming the youngest player ever to score on a Champions League debut. It will be an evening the academy graduate cherishes for the rest of his life.
Honourable mention should also go to Alvarez who scored City's second and assisted Mahrez with the third. It was a good performance from City's deputy striker.