Man City Showing Quality to End European Glory Wait 

After a 5-0 demolition of Sporting CP in the Champions League last-16 first leg, Manchester City are showing they are once again serious contenders to win the competition. 

Still, to get their hands on their first Champions League trophy, manager Pep Guardiola's City side are displaying signs they can go all the way this season. 

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Ruthless City Overcome Sporting 

It was a clinical display from City to secure a commanding advantage in their last-16 tie, as they came away from Portugal with five goals to show for their efforts. City, who are one of the favourite picks to win the Champions League this season, saw Riyad Mahrez score the opener in the Portuguese capital before a brace from Bernardo Silva and goals from Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling. It was a commanding performance from a City team that seemed to be playing at a different level at the moment. Such is the strength in depth in their squad, the Citizens looked like they had no trouble coping without injured stars Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus. 

With one foot already in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, City are justifying why many think they can go all the way this season. Guardiola's side was a dominant force for much of the competition last term, as they only ended up losing one game. Crucially that was a 1-0 defeat to fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea in the final, with Thomas Tuchel's Blues managing to neutralise the City attack in the showpiece event in Lisbon. 

Premier League Form Offers Promise 

Not only have City been impressive in Europe but also their efforts from week to week in the Premier League have also been catching the eye. With 20 wins in their first 25 games and just two defeats, it has been a tremendous league campaign so far for the Manchester outfit. City scored 61 goals in those first 25 games and only managed to concede 14. Those are troubling statistics for the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea who face an uphill battle to try and leapfrog the Citizens before the end of the season. 

Playing many games without a recognised striker, Guardiola's false nine system has been extremely effective both domestically and in Europe. Looking at the distribution of goals in the City side after those 25 league games, it has been fairly even amongst the more attacking players. Silva, Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne all had seven league goals to their name, while Sterling was the top goalscorer with 10. Not relying on one of two individuals for goals can only stand City in good stead as they look to avenge their Champions League final defeat last term. 

There does seem to be something different about City this year, and it looks like they will take some stopping to be denied a maiden Champions League crown.