Aguero makes history as City book their place in the last 16

The two teams went into the game with very different aims, City were looking to guarantee their place in the knockout stages, whilst Napoli were hoping to ramp up the pressure on Shakhtar Donetsk who occupied second place in Group F.

The hosts started the game well, pressing City with the sort of boundless energy normally only seen displayed by bunnies on a Duracell advert. Dries Mertens was heavily involved early on, as he has been all season for Maurizio Sarri’s side.

First, the Belgian fired a free kick into the City wall, before his attempted chip from just inside the box lacked the power to beat Ederson. Another tame effort from the forward followed, with the 30-year-old shooting straight at the Brazilian from an acute angle after being put in by Hamsik.

However it wasn’t long before Mertens was involved as Napoli broke the deadlock. Lorenzo Insigne picked up the ball on the left and drove forward before exchanging passes with Mertens and slotting the ball past Ederson from six yards.

The hosts start was worthy of the lead, but City reacted admirably.

Napoli suffered a major blow when left-back Faouzi Ghoulam had to be replaced after just half an hour and City took advantage of the new makeshift backline.

Sergio Aguero saw a low effort from the penalty spot deflected inches wide after a terrific pull-back from Raheem Sterling, before City equalised. Ilkay Gundogan flighted a ball in from the right and Nicolas Otamendi of all people rose highest at the back post to head the visitors level.

Pep Guardiola’s side almost took the lead shortly before half-time as John Stones headed against the bar. Good defending at the back post prevented Otamendi from doubling his account but Stones rose to head the rebound back towards goal, only to see his effort crash back off the woodwork.

City could have had a penalty with 42 minutes on the clock as Sterling appeared to be pushed in the back by Elseid Hysaj after a good burst into the box down the right but the referee was unmoved and the two sides went into the break level.

Parity didn’t last long after the break though as City soon took the lead. Just seconds after Raul Albiol had made a last-ditch challenge to deny Sterling, Stones met Sane’s centre from the left and powered a header against the underside of the crossbar and down. The City players immediately looked to the referee, who in turn looked at his watch and confirmed that the ball had crossed the line.

The game continued at a frantic pace from then on. Napoli responded well to going behind and went within inches of levelling things when Insigne cut in from the left and unleashed a rasping effort that crashed back off the crossbar.

They weren’t made to wait long for an equaliser though as Leroy Sane caught Albiol in the box to hand the hosts a rather soft penalty. Jorginho made no mistake from the spot though, sending Ederson the wrong way to level proceedings once again.

Things almost got even better for Napoli shortly afterwards as Callejon was put in behind by Mertens but his effort at the near post was somehow kept out by a stunning save from Ederson.

From the ensuing corner, City made them regret the miss as they countered with terrifying pace. Sane streaked away on the counter and after being felled at the third attempt, the ball dropped for Aguero to continue forward and fire home from just inside the box to become City’s all-time record goalscorer.

From that point on Napoli looked a spent force and City were able to round off the win in stoppage time as Kevin De Bruyne strode forward with the ball on the counter before finding Sterling on the right to rifle across Reina to add some gloss to the scoreline.

The win means that City's place in the knockout stages is secured, though Sergio Aguero will no doubt be the centre of attention once again after his historic goal.