Napoli vs Manchester City, 5 Talking Points

Manchester City produced yet another attacking masterclass as they consigned Napoli to a 4-2 defeat at the San Paolo to canter into the last 16.

Having started the game on the stronger note, the hosts managed to sneak ahead when Lorezo Insigne struck home a cheeky back-pass from Dries Mertens. The Partenopei looked to have learnt their lesson from the night at Etihad, but we were so misled.

The opener only spurred Guardiola's men on, as the visitors staged a frightening blitzkrieg that tore Napoli apart.

Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, all found the net for the Premier League leaders, who continue to gyrate in the la la land that they're in right now.

Let's delve into some of the key talking points from the amazing night in Naples:

---

#5 Manchester City are the real deal

Manchester City - A force to be reckoned with

Not many had expected Manchester City's new season to pan out in the way that it has. Sauntering their way to the top of the Premier League standings with a string of big victories, the Skyblues have successfully transcended (domestic) boundaries and replicated their blistering form in European games too.

Like what we witnessed in the previous tie between these sides, City once again started on the front foot, making dangerous forays into the box, threatening early on with a couple of attempts. However, it was not until Insigne's opener that they truly upped the ante and started firing.

There was a greater sense of urgency in every dart forward and Napoli were soon in a tizzy. The visitors continued to push bodies upfront as they made the opportunities count, apart from some harmless shots here and there. The rearguard too, tightened up after being caught off guard early on, whilst the penalty conceded looked needless on their side.

But looking from a bigger perspective, City have truly announced themselves on the big stage. No obstacle seems big enough to shackle Guardiola's band of swashbucklers, for they are on a roll. Though we are still at an early stage of the competition and City may still not be outright favourites to lift the trophy this season, underestimate them at your own peril.

Europe, are you watching?

#4 Napoli still some way off the elite grouping

Napoli still have a lot of ground to cover in Europe

Manchester City are no elites themselves when it comes to the Champions League, but they are certainly knocking on the door. Napoli, meanwhile, still have to learn a thing or two.

The Maurizio Sarri-led team may be steamrolling their way through the domestic games, having registered an undefeated first 10 matches of the new Serie A season, but they are a different beast in the European competitions. A beast that's still in its slumber and yet to awake.

Napoli were thrown the kitchen sink at the Etihad just a few minutes into the new season, and they weren't able to recover from the deficit. Though the second leg was a lot better and in fact, promising in the opening moments, they crumbled when the pressure fanned. And yet again, there was no returning back.

The hosts threatened in bits and pieces, but, the ease with which the defence was sliced through should really compel Sarri to go back to the drawing board. The chinks were there for all to see in the earlier tie, which Genoa managed to exploit to an extent too. However, they weren't papered even today.

Napoli may well be on their way to their first Serie A glory in decades if their early season form is anything to go by, but there remains an itching chasm between themselves and the elite bracket.

#3 Sterling in the form of his life

Raheem Sterling rounds off the battering with a classy finish

Raheem Sterling has definitely changed perspectives since his acrimonious transfer from Liverpool to Manchester City, but this is arguably is his best form.

The 22-year old was on target once again, taking his goal tally for the season to 10 in 14 outings in all competitions and signifying his transformation to a potential goal-machine.

Sterling was a tireless worker both on and off the ball, making insurgent runs from the flanks and popping up in dangerous positions as City made relentless counter-attack to send tremors down the Napoli spine. This guy, though, had charges of his own at them.

The former Liverpool prodigy has hit a purple patch in his career that wasn't witnessed before. He has become an able goal-scorer for his side this season, and his third consecutive game on the score-sheet in the Champions League scripts a terrific story of his growth into a Mancunian sniper.

As City surged up the park in yet another clinical counter, Kevin De Bruyne laid off the ball for Sterling in the box, who nonchalantly slotted past Pepe Reina. Not only did he cap off the game in style, but also exhibited great composure and character to do so.

Raheem Sterling has scored goals at will this season, and his transformation into a full-blown attacking ace is very much palpable.

#2 Sergio Aguero - The history maker

Sergio Aguero - The greatest Manchester City player of all time?

Sergio Aguero and his tryst with Manchester City; that's a story which is been written ever since the Argentinian first showed up in the sky-blue of the Manchester outfit over six years ago.

After five successful seasons at Atletico Madrid as a coming-of-age striker, he developed into a lethal goalscorer at City, striking the net left, right and centre. And with another strike in the bottom corner against Napoli, history was written; a history that was always in the making.

As the 29-year old was released inside the box with a through ball, he conjured a deft finish in the back of the net to only put the visitors back in the lead, but also become the club's most prolific marksman of all-time. The 178th goal of his City career took him past Eric Brook's tally of 177, a record that stood for a staggering 77 years.

Now that's hardly surprising given the blistering form he always was in. It was just the recurring injuries that delayed his crowning moment. But the moment beckoned him long, long ago.

But now, he is finally there where he rightfully belongs; gracing the annals of Manchester City history like a true legend, having inscribed his name in gold; a name that won't be forgotten in the cauldron of Etihad even decades from now.

#1 Napoli vs Manchester City once again served up a treat

Napoli vs Manchester City lived up to its billing

Two attack minded-teams going toe-to-toe with each other would always produce entertainment to the hilt. And when Napoli and Manchester City took to the field again a fortnight since their first encounter, there were more thrills, shrills and chills. Even more than last time.

If the first encounter was gripping, then the second one raised the bar, providing an entertainment value that would leave a viewer completely pleased.

The high intensity with which the match commenced would have you by the short and curlies. And never for once, did the intensity dip. Napoli's early momentum fizzled out as the game progressed, even though they did manage to show an iota of attacking intent later. City on the other hand, went full throttle after a point, producing an attacking display to behold.

With tensions simmering, the gravity of the match was quite clear as the teams just refused to slow down even though fatigue started to wear out a few legs on the pitch. The breakneck speed at which the game was played for most of its time raised heckles and sent the onlookers into delirium.

Napoli vs Manchester City may not be as big a billing as PSG vs Bayern Munich or Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur, but it sure was a spectacle, fellas!