Napoli 2-4 Manchester City: Sergio Aguero becomes all-time record scorer as Pep Guardiola's side progress into Champions League knock-out stages

• e-mail

What a way to break the record and what a place to do it. At the cavernous Stadio San Paolo where his erstwhile father-in-law Diego Maradona is still worshipped as a demi-god, Sergio Aguero ascended to greatness when he became Manchester City's top scorer of all-time.

Aguero had stood level with 1930s star Eric Brook on 177 goals for 12 days, but it was only a matter of time before he claimed a place in history all for himself. 

When the opportunity arrived in the 69th minute of his 264th appearance for City, Aguero did not let his team – or himself – down.  

Sergio Aguero became Manchester City's all-time record goal scorer when he hit the third goal in their victory over Napoli

Aguero netted as Pep Guardiola's side came from a goal down to pick up a crucial 4-2 Champions League victory in Italy

Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi celebrates after scoring his side's equaliser against Napoli at the San Paolo

John Stones roars with delight after thumping a header in off the underside of the bar to put City in front in Napoli

The win was secured when Raheem Sterling struck in injury time late, slamming past former Liverpool team-mate Pepe Reina

The City players celebrate after the full-time whistle confirms their progression into the Champions League knock-out stage

Lorenzo Insigne had put the Serie A side ahead after 20 minutes when he finished off a incisive attack with a smart finish

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, MATCH AND TABLE 

Napoli (4-3-3): Reina 5.5; Hysaj 6, Koulibaly 6, Albiol 6.5, Ghoulam 6 (Maggio 31 mins, 6.5); Allan 6.5 (Rog 75, 6), Jorginho 7 (Ounas 82), Hamsik 6.5; Callejon 6, Mertens 7, Insigne 7.5.

Unused subs: Sepe, Zielinski, Chiriches,Diawara.

Bookings: Mertens, Koulibaly

Goals: Insigne 21, Jorginho 62 (pen)

Manager: Maurizio Sarri 6.5. 

Man City (4-1-4-1): Ederson 7; Danilo 6, Stones 7, Otamendi 8, Delph 6.5; De Bruyne 7, Fernandinho 7, Gundogan 6.5 (D Silva 71); Sterling 7, Aguero 7 (B Silva 76), Sane 6.5 (Jesus 90).

Unused subs: Bravo, Walker, Mangala, Toure.

Bookings: Otamendi

Goals: Otamendi 34, Stones 48, Aguero 69, Sterling 90+2

Manager: Pep Guardiola 7.

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) 7.

Attendance: 44,483.

Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone services shows how City burst the length of the pitch for Sergio Aguero to finish and put the visitors back in front at 3-2. More stats, facts and graphics HERE

Advertisement

An absorbing Group F tie was evenly poised at 2-2 when City broke out of defence and the ball was played forward. Leroy Sane made enough of a nuisance of himself to force Elseid Hysaj to stumble and Aguero collected it 30 yards out.

Suddenly the path to goal was clear. The Argentine star drove into space and buried his shot past Pepe Reina into the bottom corner.

Maradona, father of Aguero's ex-wife Giannina and grandfather to their son Benjamin, is revered here for inspiring Napoli to the Italian title in 1987 and 1990.

Aguero was already assured of a similar place in the hearts of City fans for his part in their two championship-winning seasons. But now his name will be officially etched into the history of the club. 

Napoli fans in the stands hold up a large banner of club legend Diego Maradona as the atmosphere gears up before kick-off

Aguero was picked to lead the City line for the key Group F clash; here he looks to get away from Kalidou Koulibaly

Insigne ensured Napoli took advantage of their strong start to the game when he beat Ederson to finish a slick move

The City defenders start the inquisition after Insigne's opening goal, the Italian had got in on goal far too easily 

City wanted a penalty when Sterling was brought down in the box but referee Felix Brych was not interested

His landmark goal maintained City's 100 per cent record in the Champions League this season and sent Pep Guardiola's side through to the knockout stage for the fifth year in a row as they became the first English club to win here in Naples.

Up to that point City had showed they can still do it the old-fashioned way on a night when the beautiful goals wouldn't go in at first, with two corners leading to two headers from centre backs Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones.

But it wasn't easy. It was never going to be in the imposing Stadio San Paolo against a team as good as Napoli, the Serie A leaders who have not lost here in the league since February and have only suffered three defeats in their last 24 games at home in Europe.

A young City side showed huge character in a manner that will have delighted Guardiola and sent out another ominous message to their rivals. He admitted they were 'destroyed' in the opening 20 minutes, but still recovered to score four times. 

Stones continued to bravely play from the back, here a clearance is closed down by Napoli forward Dries Mertens

The Stones vs Mertens battle was notable during the first half at the San Paolo, here the City man beats his rival in the air

Otamendi's ability in the air at attacking end got City back into the game, heading home Ilkay Gundogan's cross to level

The City players celebrate after the Otamendi equaliser silenced the Napoli fans at the San Paolo in Naples

'When everything is going well it's easy. Even you and I can play,' said Guardiola afterwards. 'The point is how you react in bad moments and we did it really well. It was a great win for us.'

Looking to salvage their own Champions League hopes, Napoli were that little bit sharper early on and it was no surprise to see them take the lead in the 21st minute. 

It was a beautifully-worked goal but perhaps a little too easy from City's point of view. Dries Mertens played a lovely one-two on the edge of the box with Lorenzo Insigne who sliced through City's defence and curled the ball around Ederson Moraes.

The place erupted and it was to City's credit that they raised their game immediately.

They produced their best move of the first half which ended with Aguero's shot being deflected inches wide of the post. 

Kevin De Bruyne was driving the City attack forward, taking the game to Napoli with his direct runs at the heart of the defence

Napoli keeper Reina can only watch as Stones' first-half effort smacks back off the crossbar as City apply pressure

Argentine frontman Aguero reacts to a physical altercation with Napoli centre half Koulibaly as things get a little tense

Stones meets Sane's delightful corner with a firm header to put City 2-1 ahead in the second half of the contest

Goal-line technology showed that Stones' header had crossed the line despite bouncing back out after hitting the bar

Stones had to delay his celebrations until the goal was confirmed but once it was there was no holding the defender back

Napoli had not escaped, though. When De Bruyne delivered from the right, the ball was flicked on and Otamendi headed in at the far post for his first Champions League goal in 39 games.

It was also the defender's second goal in three matches, as many as he had scored in the 93 before that.

He could even have had another before half-time. Ilkay Gundogan swept the ball to the back post where Otamendi miskicked in front of goal, and the ball looped up for Stones to plant a header against the bar from 15 yards.

Raheem Sterling must have thought he would score within seconds of the restart when he wriggled through but Raul Albiol got across to make a fantastic block. 

Jorginho beat City keeper Ederson from the spot to pull Napoli level after Sane fouled Raul Albiol in the box

Jorginho celebrates in front of the passionate support in Curva at Stadio San Paolo after making the game all square at 2-2

Aguero became City's all-time record scorer when he finished a rapid counter attack with a composed finish  

The striker's effort prompted fervent celebrations and cast silence on the home fans in Naples once again

Sterling puts an exclamation point on the City performance by adding a fourth goal in second-half injury time

Again, Napoli had only delayed City scoring for a matter of moments. Sane swung over a corner and Stones met it with another thumping header.

It hit the bar again but this time bounced down just over the line, a fact German referee Felix Brych confirmed after a few moments of uncertainty.

Now it was Napoli's turn to raise their game. Insigne rattled the bar with a fine effort from 30 yards and the Italians were awarded a penalty on the hour mark for Sane's late tackle on Albiol.

Jorginho kept his cool to beat Ederson from the spot and we were all square again.

Ederson made a wonderful when Jose Callejon was one on one with the keeper, and moments later Aguero struck.

There was still time for Kevin De Bruyne to set up Sterling to score a fourth right at the end, but nothing could take away from Aguero's achievement. What a record. What a night.