Manchester City showed great character to fight back for a 5-3 first leg success over Monaco in a thoroughly entertaining encounter in which porus defending from both teams made for an enthralling spectacle.
An entertaining if controversial first half ended with City going in 2-1 down after taking the lead through Raheem Sterling only for Monaco to take advantage of some slack defending to score twice in eight minutes just before the break.
City lost their composure after Sergio Aguero was booked for diving after rounding keeper Daniel Subasic when replays confirmed the striker had been caught with the home side already in the lead. The question was had the Argentinean made the most of the contact.
Almost immediately the French side broke clear and almost levelled. But the hosts failed to heed the warning and keeper Willy Cabellero played a poor ball forward gifting possession to the visitors.
When the cross was played in Radamel Falcao, the former Manchester United and Chelsea striker, was allowed a free diving header to restore parity on 32 minutes.
Monaco are the highest scoring team in any of Europe's major leagues and gave ample evidence of this when they took the lead eight minutes later. A quick free kick was hoisted over a static City rearguard and Djibril Sidibe strode forward to blast home number two.
This was all far removed from the 26th minute when the home side carved open the Monaco defence courtesy of Leroy Sane and David Silva allowing Sterling to poke home from close range.
The French outfit have a good away record against English opposition and another talking point at the start of the second half gave then an opportunity to continue that record.
This time the Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz, after some delay and confusion, gave Monaco a penalty after Nicolas Otamendi was adjudged to have brought down Kylian Mbappe.
Falcao tried to play mind games with Caballero by delaying his spot kick but only succeeded in hitting a week spot kick straight at the keeper.
The Citizens responded almost immediately and Sterling sent Aguero through and this time it was Monaco's keeper whose error allowed the shot to squirm under him for the equaliser.
Within three minutes back came the visitor's to regain the lead. A swift, incisive attack found John Stones wanting as Falcao shrugged off his challenge then made up up for his missed penalty by deftly chipping Caballero.
Sterling then had a shout for a penalty but the Spanish official was unimpressed and Monaco broke quickly to almost add number four.
The goal fest continued as City found an equaliser when Aguero was left unmarked to volley home from a corner. It then became dreamtime for the home side as they took the lead when Stones was allowed the freedom of the six-yard box to prod number four with 13 minutes remaining.
With defences less than secure the Etihad Stadium erupted as number five found the back of the net from Sane. Caballero then had to be alert and saved with his legs from Falcao.
The final whistle was greeted with a roar from the Etihad faithful but tempered with the knowledge Monaco may have lost but had accrued three away goals which could prove crucial.
Full Time
Man City: 5 (Sterling 26. Aguero 58, 70, Stones 77, Sane 82
Monaco: 3 (Falcao 32, 61, Sidibe 40
