ERLING HAALAND passed another Champions League milestone – as he left Sergio Aguero trailing in his rear view mirror.
The Norwegian forward latched onto a lovely through ball from Rico Lewis and finished with the minimum of fuss just before the hour.
That was a 42nd goal in just 41 appearances in a competition that the £51.4million admits he loves playing in.
That takes him past City’s all-time leading scorer Aguero’s tally in Uefa’s most presitigious tournament – and don’t forget Haaland is still only 24.
He was subbed a few minutes later and might have felt slightly annoyed with Pep Guardiola – as there were more goals in this one for him.
This was little more than a training exercise for the English champs against the Slovakian rookies – and the only surprise was they only scored four.
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But after a draw in their first European game against Inter two weeks ago, they are well and truly up and running now.
Bratislava had played eight games just to reach the league stage of the competition – and on their opening night a fortnight ago they were thumped 5-1 by Celtic in Glasgow.
Yet they were thrilled to be welcoming the 2022/23 winners and all the star names to their home and were determined to enjoy the night.
It could even have got off to a fairytale start for the Slovaks.
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Home skipper Vladimir Weiss jr – who came through the ranks at the Etihad and helped them win the FA Youth Cup – rolled the ball into the path of Marko Tolic.
His angled shot beat Stefan Ortega but drifted just wide of the far post. You got the feeling that was their moment and so it proved.
Haaland and Phil Foden all went close in a lively opening spell – all before City took the lead in the eighth minute.
Jeremy Doku cross found its way to fellow winger Savinho who saw his effort blocked but it bounced up nicely for Gundogan.
His volley from the edge of the box took a deflection off Kyriakos Savvidis leaving keeper Dominik Tavac with no chance.
Back in the armband and back scoring goals for Man City – it’s almost like the year at Barcelona never happened.
Doku was causing big problems down the right and he slipped a ball inside for Foden.
The England ace took a touch before curling a low shot around the outstretched arm of Tavac from 15 yards.
Last season’s PFA Player of the Year has had a slow start to the current campaign – but has looked more like his old self in recent days.
This was shaping up to be another long night for the hosts but Tavac did well to dash out and save at the feet of Haaland.
Both Doku and Foden saw efforts come back off the post as City poured forward in search of more goals.
And Gundogan made it a hat-trick of efforts off the woodwork as his long range effort smacked the crossbar.
It had been one of the most one-sided halves you will but for all their dominance, boss Pep Guardiola did not look impressed.
He said in the press conference before the game that the questions had the feel of a friendly – and maybe his players felt like that too.
Or perhaps it was just too easy for them. The second half started in a similar vein with Tavac denying Rico Lewis.
Haaland – who cut a slightly frustrated figure after barely touching the ball first half – headed a decent chance over after a cross by Matheus Nunes.
Yet he didn’t have to wait long for his goal. Lewis played a ball straight through the home defence to send the Norwegian racing clear.
He went round Tavac with the minimum of fuss before scoring in an empty net.
As well as beating Aguero’s total, it also put him 18th in the list of all time Champions League goalscorers – level with Alessandro del Piero.
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He was subbed a couple of minutes later but at least that gave the man who replaced him – academy product James McAtee – the chance for a special moment.
The former Sheffield United loanee took a pass from Foden and showed some nifty footwork before scoring his first goal for his boyhood club.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
