Football news - Sterling, Sane secure stunning comeback win for Manchester City

Late goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling ensured VAR would not take the headlines as 10-man Manchester City battled to a stunning 3-2 comeback victory at Schalke in their Champions League last-16 first leg.

City, tournament favourites heading into the knockout phase of the competition, took the lead after just 18 minutes thanks to Sergio Aguero.

But they were trailing by the break, with VAR taking almost three minutes to award Schalke a penalty after Nicolas Otamendi handled the ball – Nabil Benteleb duly converted, and did so seven minutes later after a needless Fernandinho foul inside the box.

City’s night got worse when Otamendi was dismissed for a second bookable offence after the break, but their fortunes reversed late on as Sane came off the bench to whip in a delightful free-kick before Sterling put them ahead at the death.

The encounter will have left Pep Guardiola with plenty to ponder ahead of their League Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday, but with three away goals in tow, City should have little trouble advancing to the quarter-finals when they welcome Schalke to the Etihad in three weeks’ time.

The debate is VAR from over. This is the first round VAR has been implemented in the Champions League, and it made headlines in both City’s match at Schalke as well as the Atletico-Juventus match in Madrid on Wednesday night.

At Schalke, the concern was surrounding the near THREE-MINUTE wait to award the first penalty. Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande even had time to talk to captains Ralf Fahrmann and David Silva as the decision was being made, though it was later revealed the pitchside screen was broken – hence why the official had to wait for advice on the decision, when he normally would have gone over to make it himself.

Never great to see teething problems on the biggest of stages in Europe – and Guardiola will be delighted to see his City side dig deep at the death to ensure it was not a hindrance.

Raheem Sterling (Man City). A funny old game, which therefore makes it difficult to pick a standout player, but Sterling gets the nod for outmuscling a defender and popping up when it matters, like he did on so many occasions (at least twice) last season.

Schalke: Fahrmann 6, Caliguiri 6, Bruma 6, Sane 6, Nastasic 7, Oczikpa 6, Serdar 7, Bentaleb 7, McKennie 6, Uth 7, Mendyl 6. Subs: Burgstaller 6, Skrybski 6, Harit 6.

Man City: Ederson 6, Walker 5, Otamendi 4, Fernandinho 5, Laporte 5, D Silva 6, Gundogan 6, De Bruyne 6, Sterling 7, Aguero 6, B Silva 6. Subs: Kompany 6, Sane 7, Zinchenko 6.

18’ - GOAL! City take the lead! It has taken City just 18 minutes to stamp their authority on this tie, and who else but Aguero, as the visitors capitalise on a poor pass from Fahrmann. David Silva nips in, he finds Aguero, and it's 1-0.

35’ - PENALTY?? Big call this is Caligiuri's effort strikes the arm of Otamendi on its way through and wide for a corner. VAR just taking a look at this one.... And after a couple of minutes the penalty is given!

38’ - GOAL SCHALKE! BENTALEB LEVELS FROM THE SPOT! City players still protesting with the referee but the decision has been made. Bentaleb then steps up and converts the penalty - sending Ederson the wrong way.

43’ - ANOTHER PENALTY TO SCHALKE! The referee punishes Fernandinho for a push in the box as the free-kick comes in...

45’ - BENTALEB PUTS SCHALKE AHEAD! It's deja-vu as Benteleb steps up some seven minutes after equalising... this time Ederson guesses right but the effort is too powerful for the goalkeeper.

68’ - OTAMENDI IS OFF! He was booked for the first-half penalty, and is shown a second yellow for a foul just inside his own half!

85’ - GOAL CITY! What a strike from Sane! The German whips in a delightful free-kick against his former club. Stunning.

90’ - GOAL! CITY AHEAD! What a crazy game this has been, and it's Sterling who scores for City at the death! Sterling outmuscles Oczipka after a long ball over the top, and he takes a touch before nudging it in. WOW.