{"id":25465,"date":"2022-03-09T18:07:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T23:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25465"},"modified":"2022-03-12T11:10:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T16:10:44","slug":"manchester-city-ease-into-champions-league-quarterfinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25465","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City Ease Into Champions League Quarterfinals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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After winning the first leg of the last-16 tie 5-0 last month, City barely got out of second gear in Wednesday\u2019s return at the Etihad Stadium (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manchester City were hardly tested as they formally confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After winning the first leg of the last-16 tie 5-0 last month, City barely got out of second gear in Wednesday\u2019s return at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabriel Jesus did have a goal disallowed while Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling also worked visiting goalkeeper Antonio Adan, but Pep Guardiola\u2019s side showed little urgency against a side clearly resigned to elimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such was City\u2019s control that veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson was sent on for the latter stages while youngsters James McAtee and Luke Mbete also appeared in the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of City\u2019s promising academy products, defender CJ Egan-Riley was handed a place in the starting line-up, although that was enforced by the absences of Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all, Guardiola made six changes from the team that outplayed Manchester United on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those to sit out key playmaker was Kevin De Bruyne, who is just one booking away from a ban in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City strolled through the first period, controlling possession but not putting the Sporting defense under much pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was 24 minutes before they mustered a shot on target with Foden\u2019s effort from 20 yards testing goalkeeper Adan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus did feel he should have had a penalty after a challenge by Manuel Ugarte, and he was also given nothing after a tackle by Luis Neto on the edge of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sterling had City\u2019s best chance of the first half after being played through by Foden but he failed in his attempt to dink over Adan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City sent on McAtee and the in-form Riyad Mahrez at the interval and the latter created what appeared the breakthrough almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahrez raced into the area from a long ball and regained possession after being tackled to slip in Jesus on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brazilian slotted into the net from a tight angle but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus had another attempt but Adan grabbed at the second time of asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sporting occasionally got forward but never troubled keeper Ederson. One counter-attack did have City back-pedaling but Matheus Reis blasted well over from the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So quiet was Ederson that Guardiola decided to take him off in the 73rd minute, replacing him with Carson. It was only the 36-year-old\u2019s second City outing and his first appearance in the Champions League since his spell at Liverpool in 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carson was almost immediately into the action, needing to save from Paulinho at point-blank range and taking a blow to the knee in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Stones went close to grabbing an injury-time winner but headed just over and the game ended without score.<\/p>\n

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