Man City 3-1 Porto: Sergio Aguero’s 40th Champions League goal in comeback win

Manchester City made a winning start to their 10th attempt at winning the Champions League after fighting back to beat Porto.

This was not a vintage performance from Pep Guardiola’s side, who were sloppy in possession in dangerous positions, especially early on, but they were in full control by the time their opening game in Group C was over.

City had not even managed a shot at goal when they fell behind in the 14th minute, after a poor pass by Ruben Dias allowed Matheus Uribe to start a Porto attack.

Uribe found Colombian forward Luis Diaz, who was allowed to cut inside from the left and run virtually unchallenged into the City box before beating Ederson with a low shot.

City were not behind for long, however, with Aguero given the chance to equalise from the spot after Gundogan hit the post and Pepe clumsily took out Raheem Sterling as he chased the rebound.

Porto were unhappy with the decision, claiming Gundogan had stepped on goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin in the build-up, but the penalty stood and Aguero blasted home his 40th Champions League goal.

There were further chances for the visitors before the break, with Kyle Walker having to clear Sergio Oliveira’s shot off the line.

But they were much less of a threat in the second half, which was when City began to exert some authority in midfield.

The chances were hardly flowing for Guardiola’s men either, but Gundogan showed a touch of class to bend in his free-kick over the wall from the edge of the area and give his side the lead.

By now City were on top and Torres made certain of victory seconds after replacing Aguero, playing a neat one-two with fellow substitute Phil Foden and curling his shot home.

Aguero ends goal drought

It is only 67 days since City’s defeat against Lyon in the delayed quarter-finals of last year’s competition, and that disappointment must be fresh in Guardiola’s mind.

His side made a sluggish start here too, but in the end he will have seen plenty to improve his mood – notably the end of Aguero’s goal drought.

The prolific Argentina striker had gone 230 days without scoring before converting his penalty, the longest spell of his illustrious career.

Aguero had missed a large portion of that spell through injury, before making a return to action against Arsenal last weekend.

His fitness and form is surely key to City success, especially with their only other senior striker Gabriel Jesus sidelined, and it must be reassuring for Guardiola to see him back among the goals.

The bad news for City? Another injury

The only cloud for City was to see another player – substitute Fernandinho – injured and forced off himself before the end.

Fernandinho had been a particularly vocal supporter of his side from the stands during the first half but they will not want him to have to stay there for a long period.

With a busy schedule ahead, they are already without their talisman Kevin de Bruyne as well as Jesus, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy and Aymeric Laporte.

Uefa regulations allow clubs to name 12 substitutes for each Champions League game, but it was telling that City had two keepers – Zack Steffen and Scott Carson – on their bench.

‘We had to be patient’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to BT Sport: “This is a good start for us and the next step we go to France to get the second one. At set-pieces they were strong. By the second half we didn’t concede anything on set-pieces or counter-attacks so we controlled the game.

“Here in the Champions League is an opportunity to play five substitutions and the ones that came on made incredible contribution. We had decided before the goal [to substitute Gundogan] but he made an incredible goal.

“We spoke about being patient, we had to be patient and at the right moment attack them, so we let them run.”

What’s next? A trip to France

City head for the south of France next Tuesday, 27 October, to play Marseille in their second game in Group C, at the same time as Porto entertain Olympiakos (both 20:00 GMT kick-offs).

Before then, Guardiola’s side travel to London to face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday (12:30).

Player of the match

TorresFerran Torres

FC Porto

1. Squad number7Player nameDíaz

2. Squad number32Player nameSarr

3. Squad number19Player nameMbemba

4. Squad number1Player nameMarchesín

5. Squad number8Player nameUribe

6. Squad number12Player nameSanusi

7. Squad number11Player nameMarega

8. Squad number17Player nameJM Corona

9. Squad number50Player nameFábio Vieira

10. Squad number27Player nameSérgio Oliveira

11. Squad number18Player nameWilson Manafá

12. Squad number3Player namePepe

13. Squad number9Player nameTaremi

14. Squad number31Player nameNanu

15. Squad number10Player nameNakajima

16. Squad number30Player nameEvanilson