He would profit from two more corners after the interval, lashing home a pair of rebounds. City’s No 9 practically tackled the ball in. Rúben Dias’s header from a corner had kissed the inside of the post and run across the line, Amadou Haidara trying to spin and clear but he could feel Haaland behind him. Leipzig’s task became impossible after Haaland’s final act of the first half. What followed was all about the purity of De Bruyne’s technique, a run in traffic followed by a scorching drive that came back off the crossbar. He forced the Leipzig goalkeeper, Janis Blaswich, to rush a clearance and, when Manuel Akanji volleyed back from halfway, Haaland twisted to nod back to De Bruyne. Haaland’s second goal was the perfect illustration of his hustle, athleticism and predatory instinct. And if it does not, it probably will do the next time. Once the chance is there, it normally means only one thing. He almost took home two.īut it is the remorselessness that underpins everything, the desire to chase causes which appear lost, to put himself about and make things happen. One of the things about Haaland is that he is plainly having so much fun – witness the goal celebrations, even the grins after he goes close the same when he watched from the bench here after his withdrawal and, obviously, when he wandered off with the match-ball. Goodness knows what his numbers will look like when it is all over. It was Haaland’s 36 th appearance for City and the club will play a minimum of 14 more games in all competitions before the end of the season a maximum of 19 as they chase glory in the Premier League, the FA Cup and this competition – the one that they crave. De Bruyne was very good on his return to the starting XI but this was an occasion that was transcended by one man. With Haaland now on board, the possibilities are tantalising, especially with the business end of the tournament looking so open.Ĭity equalled their record win in it – the 7-0 against Schalke from 2019 – when Kevin De Bruyne curled home a stoppage-time beauty. Guardiola has been getting closer to the holy grail of a Champions League win with City, a final and a semi-final in the past two seasons. What this masterclass of bullying power, hard running and lethal shooting did was send a message across Europe.
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