The England international struck twice in the space of two minutes as City came from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
City had trailed after the Germans replied to David Silva's early strike through Julian Korb and Raffael but Sterling turned the game around late in the second half and Wilfried Bony added the final gloss.
With Juventus losing at Sevilla, the result was enough for City to leapfrog the Italians to the
top of Group D while Monchengladbach slipped
top of Group D while Monchengladbach slipped
to the bottom and missed out on a Europa League spot.
The attacking verve with which City finished the game - Sterling's equaliser only came in the 79th minute - was reward for a determined second-half display but for most of the game the frustration in the crowd was evident.
It was the 3,000 Monchengladbach fans who made most of the noise and their side gave City an early scare as Korb broke clear.
Sterling had a harsh introduction as he was caught in the chest by the boot of Havard Nordtveit but was soon back on his feet and linking nicely with Kevin De Bruyne and Silva in a fluid attacking trio.
City started without an out-and-out centre forward having left Bony on the bench and with Sergio Aguero still injured, but it initially looked like it would not matter.
The arrangement paid off in the 16th minute as Sterling played Silva in on goal with a nifty backheel and the Spaniard took full advantage as he rifled a shot into the roof of the net.
But City's weaknesses at the back in the continued absence of captain Vincent Kompany were again evident as Monchengladbach claimed an immediate equaliser.
Gael Clichy, making on his third appearance of the season, looked uncomfortable in the right-back slot and was caught out as Fabian Johnson charged forward. Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi were slow to respond and Johnson's low ball across the box was rifled home by Korb.The contest was an open one with both sides showing attacking intent but both Sterling and Yaya Toure were wayward with attempts on goal.
City were cracked open again before the break as Oscar Wendt drilled in a low cross and Johnson's shot was diverted past Joe Hart by Raffael.
The Germans then began to frustrate City but the hosts upped the tempo after the break with Sterling coming to the fore.
The £49million man almost nipped in as Nico Elvedi chested the ball back to Yann Sommer but the goalkeeper just cleared.
Sterling ran across the area to tee up Silva and then shot himself but Sommer saved on both occasions. Sommer then produced a fine reflex save to deny Sterling on the volley after a Toure effort was blocked
The contest was an open one with both sides showing attacking intent but both Sterling and Yaya Toure were wayward with attempts on goal.
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