Erling Haaland maintained his incredible start to life at
Manchester City as the Norway striker’s double inspired a 4-0 rout
of Sevilla in Tuesday’s Champions League opener, Trend reports citing Bein Sports.
Haaland’s latest display of his sublime predatory instincts
ensured City started their Group G campaign in emphatic fashion at
the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
The 22-year-old put City ahead in the first half and he netted
again after the interval as Phil Foden and Ruben Dias also
scored.
Guardiola this week insisted City cannot pin all their Champions
League hopes on Haaland.
But he has made an incredible start to his City career following
his £51 million ($58 million) move from Borussia Dortmund, scoring
12 goals in just seven games in all competitions.
Haaland has scored 25 times in 20 Champions League games, a
tally that now includes goals on his debuts in the competition for
City, Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg.
City’s stroll in southern Spain was just what the Premier League
champions needed after the frustration of Saturday’s draw at Aston
Villa.
Pitted in a group also featuring Dortmund and FC Copenhagen,
City will expect to qualify comfortably if Haaland continues this
kind of form.
But only winning the Champions League for the first time will
make City’s season a complete success after so many years of
painful failure in the competition.
There was a touch of irony about City returning to Spain to
start this year’s Champions League run after last season’s campaign
ended in Guardiola’s homeland.
City suffered an agonising semi-final defeat against Real
Madrid, who scored twice in stoppage time to spark an extra-time
victory that left Guardiola still waiting for his first European
triumph since 2011 with Barcelona.
Strong winds on their flight contributed to a delayed arrival on
Monday night, but City were never in danger of being blown off
course in Sevilla.
With John Stones and Kyle Walker injured, Manuel Akanji made a
composed debut in City’s defence after his deadline-day move from
Dortmund, while Sergio Gomez was also solid at left-back in his
first start.
– Statement of intent –
Sending an early statement of intent, Haaland glanced a header
just wide from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.
City’s pressure was rewarded in the 20th minute as Haaland
maintained his blistering form.
Foden slipped a pass to De Bruyne on the right flank and the
Belgian’s cross was perfectly placed for Haaland, who showed
tremendous movement and anticipation to volley home from close
range.
Haaland is the fourth player to score on his Champions League
debut for at least three different clubs after Fernando Morientes,
Javier Saviola and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
City had squandered the lead after Haaland put them ahead at
Villa and they looked determined to avoid a repeat.
De Bruyne went close with a free-kick that whistled wide, while
Haaland motored into the area for a shot well saved by Yassine
Bounou.
Penned back in their own half for long periods, Sevilla suddenly
mounted a rare attack that almost brought an equaliser.
Thomas Delaney laid off to Papu Gomez and the forward should
have done better than fire high into the stands.
Foden made Gomez pay for that miss as the City forward struck in
the 58th minute.
Cancelo picked out Foden in the Sevilla area and he twisted and
turned before planting a clever shot past the wrong-footed Bounou
from 12 yards.
Haaland delivered the knockout blow in the 67th minute with a
simple close-range finish after Bounou pushed Foden’s shot into his
path.
With just seconds left in stoppage time, Dias capped the
demolition as the defender converted Cancelo’s cross.
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