ERLING HAALAND scored yet ANOTHER double in Manchester City’s 5-0 thrashing of Copenhagen.
The Norway striker has now scored a phenomenal 19 goals in just 12 games in all competitions for City since his move from Borussia Dortmund.
And Haaland only played one half against the Danish side before being taken off with Pep Guardiola thinking ahead to Southampton this weekend.
- Result: Man City 5-0 Copenhagen
- Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Gomez, Mahrez, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Grealish – Haaland, Alvarez
- Copenhagen XI: Grabara, Diks, Vavro, Khocholava, Kristiansen – Stamenic, Lerager, Johannesson, Claesson, Daramy, Karamoko
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In the end this game was exactly as everyone expected it to be, but that’s not to say that it wasn’t still exciting.
How can you not enjoy watching a player like Erling Haaland when they are in such a rich vein of form.
As soon as Haaland opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the match you knew it was going to be a long night for FC Copenhagen.
The good news for the Danish side is that they escaped from tonight’s game without the score line getting too embarrassing. The bad news is that they play Manchester City again in six days time…
First though, Pep Guardiola’s team host Southampton at the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Before I go I’ll leave you with this stat: Erling Haaland has now scored more Champions League goals than Luis Suarez managed in his whole career. It has taken Haaland just 22 games to do so.
Haaland the missing piece?
City’s struggles in the Champions League are well-documented but could Erling Haaland be the man to finally deliver the trophy that the club crave most?
Haaland’s second goal tonight was indicative of why City signed him in the summer.
Guardiola has had plenty of success playing without a recognised forward but would any other City player have had the instinct to be in the right place at the right time to score that goal tonight?
City’s perfect record
Pep Guardiola’s side have won all three of their Champions League games this season.
Dortmund registered an impressive 4-1 victory away at Sevilla this evening and are just three poijts behind manchester City.
Guardiola’s team will need to continue to stack up the wins if they are to finish top of the group and earn themselves a favourable draw in the knockout rounds.
Grealish post-match reaction
Jack Grealish has been giving his thoughts on the game after another stellar performance from him on a personal level.
I’m loving it! I feel back to myself playing with that sort of freedom.
Jack Grealish
City’s next generation
Pep Guardiola gave Champions League minutes to a trio of City academy graduates tonight and they all slotted in seamlessly.
Cole Palmer in particular looked extremely bright and it makes you wonder if he deserves more game time in the future.
Erling Haaland
It’s tough to find new ways of describing Erling Haaland.
Do we call him a ‘machine’? Or a ‘monster’?
Whatever you want to call him, he has arrived in England as a fully-formed superstar and he is leaving a trail of goal scoring records in his wake.
Another dominant display
City are in frightetning forma t the moment and are more than a match for any side in world football.
This game came at a bad time for a Copenhagen side that is struggling to find its feet this season.
It’s Erling Haaland who will be on all the back pages again tonight and you start to wonder who is going to be able to stop him scoring.
Stay with us for all the post-match reaction!
Full-Time! Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen
90, The referee takes pity on FC Copenhagen and blows the final whistle without playing a minute of injury time.
Another win for City thanks to Erling Haaland’s goals.
Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen
90, We are heading into added time at the end of the second half here.
Can City find time for one more goal?
Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen
87, I’m sure it will come as a surprise to you to learn that City are currently dominating possession.
Copenhagen are half-heartedly attempting to nick the ball off them as the players pray for the full-time whistle.
This result is nothing to be ashamed of for the reigning Danish champions but City have just been at a different level tonight.
Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen
83, Deja vu for Grealish!
The City attacker attempts to guide Mahrez’ cross beyond the goalkeeper with the inside of his right foot, but again he rolls the ball just wide of the far post.
Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen
78, So close from Grealish!
Grealish has been very good tonight and almost gets the goal that his performance deserves but his shot flies just wide of the far post.
Goal! Manchester City 5-0 FC Copenhagen (Alvarez)
76, Alvarez scores his first Champions league goal!
Alvarez taps in from about a yard after great work from Grealish and Mahrez in the build-up.
Grealish drove forward with the ball from midfield before giving it to Mahrez who beat his man and passed to Alvarez who couldn’t miss.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
74, It seemed for a moment as though Copenhagen were about to score a consolation, but Rico Lewis just manages to get back in time to deflect Mukairu’s shot out for a corner.
The 17-year-old did well there.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
70, Alvarez hits the post!
Grealish plays a clever through ball behind the Copenhagen defence for Alvarez, but the Argentinian can’t squeeze the ball in from a tight angle as he hits the outside of the post.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
70, Neither side has managed to carve out a sight of goal in the last few minutes.
FC Copenhagen have had just one touch in the Manchester City penalty area tonight.
One-way traffic.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
66, Guardiola hands out another Champions league debut.
This time it is Josh Wilson-Esbrand who is the grateful recipient.
Bernardo Silva is the player to be replaced by the academy graduate.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
66, It’s a double change for Copenhagen as Diks and Claesson are replaced by Ankersen and Mukairu.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
65, The rain is teeming down in Manchester now.
Copenhagen will be delighted to see Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden jog off down the touchline to warm up…
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
62, The intensity has come out of City’s play since that fourth goal.
Both teams would be happy if the referee called full-time now.
Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen
57, Pep Guardiola hands a Champions League debut to 17-year-old Rico Lewis as Cancelo makes way.
The England under-19 international takes his place at right-back.
Goal! Manchester City 4-0 FC Copenhagen (Mahrez)
55, Mahrez makes no mistake form the spot as he sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
This is getting ugly for Copenhagen now.
Penalty! Manchester City 3-0 FC Copenhagen
53, The referee points to the spot after Stemenic hauls down Laporte at the back post.
Stemenic is booked and it’s Mahrez who steps up…
Manchester City 3-0 FC Copenhagen
51, Grabara is going to be man of the match tonight!
Another magnificent save, this time from Palmer who looks keen to make the most of his opportunity.
Manchester City 3-0 FC Copenhagen
49, If the Copenhagen defenders thought they couold take it easy now that Palmer is on then they are very much mistaken.
The City youngster has danced past Copenhagen defenders on two occasions already.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
