LONDON – Manchester City sent shockwaves through Europe on Tuesday as they demolished RB Leipzig 7-0 in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
While the Cityzens have reached the quarter-finals for a sixth consecutive season, it was Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul that stole the show, and put the continent on notice.
The Norwegian’s scoring spree, which took his tally to 39 goals in just 35 games for City, equalled the Champions League record for most goals in a single game and made him the youngest player to reach 30 goals in the competition.
For City, a Champions League crown has long been the ultimate goal, and that is why they broke the bank to sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Pep Guardiola admitted before Tuesday’s match that his tenure at City would be defined by winning or failing to win the Champions League, despite their Premier League dominance.
Haaland’s arrival was seen as a step towards finally achieving that elusive European success, and his exploits against Leipzig only served to reinforce that belief.
“He was so hungry,” said Leipzig boss Marco Rose, who coached Haaland at Dortmund.
“He scored goals with the foot, with the head, he won second balls, he made deep runs. It all looked really simple tonight. It was a special night for him.”
Guardiola, too, was full of praise for the young striker. “Today he scored five goals and I think he had 30 or 35 ball contacts,” said the City boss.
“This is what we were looking for because we had the feeling when you are involved in the game defensively, offensively, when the ball comes to score a goal, you are more precise. He can do it, but it is difficult to score goals when you don’t touch the ball for 40 or 50 minutes.”
While Haaland’s impact has been undeniable, there have been teething problems in his first season in England.
At times, he has cut a frustrated figure as his teammates failed to pick out his runs. But Guardiola is confident that the striker will continue to adapt to City’s style of play and become an all-round threat.
“Sometimes it’s his fault because sometimes he doesn’t move… but the other (times) it is our fault where we didn’t find him,” said the Spaniard.
As the season reaches its decisive stages, City will be hoping that Haaland can continue his scoring spree and help them finally lift the Champions League trophy.
For the Norwegian, the goal is simple: “My super strength is scoring goals.”
