Wednesday evening, it was easy to party at home in the Champions League for Manchester City. The English club takes a (Site notre bureau spécialisé) lesson from Borussia Dortmund (4-1) thanks to the irresistible Erling Haaland, but also with a double from Phil Foden.
French striker Rayan Cherki, jumping off the bench, joined the party by scoring after a solo tumble at the start of added time (90th+1, 4-1).
Manchester City’s best results in C1
With the result, the 2023 European champions proved that they are a force that should be reckoned with this year. The ranking is based on achievements: they are 4th in the league phase, undefeated after 4 days.
At home, they crushed a BVB team which had only suffered one defeat so far since the start of the season, on the lawn of the king of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich (2-1). The reduction of the score by Waldemar Anton (72nd, 3-1) is a new moment for the Skyblues of Pep Guardiola, and control during the vast majority of the game.
The visitors only had to do the English during the first twenty minutes with high pressing which forced the wingers to respond to each other towards the halfway line, leaving Haaland isolated right up front. The tactics of Niko Kovac and his men were shattered twice in the following ten minutes, by Foden (22nd, 1-0) and Haaland (29th, 2-0), clinical in the finish.
Haaland’s captain against his former club
Captain of design, Haaland joins a new player in the vertical collection, which constitutes a celebration with a renewed face at the old club. “Erling the Great”, as a banner in the stands proclaimed, representing him with a cape and a Viking helmet, took over with all his power and balanced a cross from Jérémy Doku, electric on Wednesday. This now makes 18 goals in 14 matches (including 5 in the European Cup) for the Norwegian since the start of the season, and 142 in 160 matches played with Manchester City, his club since 2022.
Despite these high-end statistics, Phil Foden stole the spotlight with a double that could have been predicted. In the second period, he landed a strike very quickly and despite three defenses around him (57th, 3-0). The attacking midfielder is gradually getting back on track after a last season where he was at a steep decline, and his performance this evening could convince coach Thomas Tuchel to recall him on Friday.
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The rest of the work still remains but the European adventure is well underway for the citizens before facing Leverkusen and Real Madrid, among others. Before that, there will be the reception of Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League.
