Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will take a two-goal advantage to Monaco in the second leg of their last 16 clash in the Champions League after winning 5-3 in a thriller at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Citizens twice found themselves behind to the Ligue 1 leaders, but a brace from Sergio Aguero, as well as goals from Raheem Sterling, John Stones, and Leroy Sane gives the Premier League outfit the lead heading to the Stade Louis II in a fortnight’s time.

It means that Guardiola is one game closer to extended his record of reaching at the least the semi-finals of the competition in every season he has been a manager, and it also extends City’s recent good run of form, which has seen them win five of their last six games in all competitions.

They are just about still in the title race, trailing leaders Chelsea by eight points with 13 games to go, and they remain in the FA Cup, although will need a replay to get past Huddersfield Town to reach the last eight.

All in all, it has been at decent season at the Etihad, and with City not playing again now until next week, we thought we’d take a look back at their campaign thus far.

So, with that in mind, here’s What’s Hot and What’s Not from City’s 2016/17 season so far…

HOT – 10 game winning run at start

There was much anticipation around Manchester and indeed the country when Guardiola took over at City last summer, and his first few months in charge mirrored that sense of expectation.

The Citizens began the season with ten straight victories in all competitions, which saw them: qualify for the Champions League group stages, and then win their first game in Group C; reach the fourth round of the League Cup with victory over Swansea; and indeed top the Premier League having won their first six league matches.

They netted 30 goals and beat neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford, alongside wins at Stoke and Swansea, while Sunderland, West Ham, and Bournemouth all visited the Etihad Stadium, and left with nothing.

City were magnificent in the early phase of the campaign, with Sergio Aguero on fire, Raheem Sterling rejuvenated, and Kevin De Bruyne exceptional – it was the perfect start to life in Manchester for Guardiola.

NOT – Went off the boil over the autumn

However, their ten-game winning run to start the season was quickly halted, as they drew 3-3 away at Celtic in the Champions League.

And that sparked a run of no win in six games in all competitions, in which time they lost 4-0 at Barcelona and were knocked out of the League Cup by neighbours United.

They then registered four victories in six as it looked like they were getting back to their early season form, and that included their 3-1 success over Barca at the Etihad, but they then suffered back-to-back league defeats against Chelsea and Leicester.

Since then it has been much better from City, but they couldn’t find a good level of consistency over the autumn, and that is ultimately why they are eight points behind leaders Chelsea at the top.

HOT – Man City 3-1 Barcelona

City’s Champions League qualification hopes were hanging by a thread when they went a goal down at home to Barcelona on November 1, with Lionel Messi giving Luis Enrique’s men a 21st-minute lead.

However, what was to come was arguably the best display the Citizens have produced under Guardiola, as they came from behind to win 3-1 and all but seal their place in the last 16.

They were given a helping hand at the end of the first half, when Sergi Roberto’s error allowed Sergio Aguero to find Raheem Sterling, who then crossed for Ilkay Gundogan to slot home.

After that though, it was all City, who went ahead through Kevin De Bruyne’s excellent free-kick, and then continued to create opportunities before Gundogan sealed the victory with his second 16 minutes from time.

City were absolutely sensational going forward and caused Barca no end of problems on what was surely their best night in the Champions League (although the 5-3 victory over Monaco on Tuesday may be up there!).

NOT – Defensively questionable

For all of City’s excellent attacking endeavour this term, their tally of 51 Premier League goals is only three less than top-scorers Arsenal and Liverpool, they have been very suspect defensively.

The Manchester club spent £47.5 million on England international John Stones in the summer, and he hasn’t really shown many defensive qualities this season, even if he does play the way Guardiola wants, while the ageing full-backs of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Pablo Zabaleta have been far from reliable.

The goalkeeping situation remains unsolved, with Claudio Bravo brought in because he can use his feet, neglecting the fact that he’s not a great shot-stopper, while Willy Caballero is a better shot-stopper, but has seriously struggled with the ball on the floor.

Aleksandar Kolarov has never been a great defender and his lack of pace has been exploited too often, while Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been better than last season, but is still not dependable enough at the back.

The three goals they shipped against Monaco on Wednesday were indicative of their defensive struggles and, although they compensated by netting five, that will not always happen, and instead the backline will have to occasionally bail out the front men.