MANCHESTER (AFP) — Erling Haaland continued his remarkable goal scoring form by scoring twice in Manchester City’s 5-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
Haaland came into City’s game against Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium after becoming the first player in Premier League history to score three consecutive hat-tricks at home in the demolition of Manchester United on Sunday.
The Norwegian scored the opening goal after seven minutes with his weaker right foot, before bouncing back for his second 25 minutes later.
The 22-year-old has now scored 28 goals in his 22 Champions League appearances, already breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for most goals in a player’s first 30 games in the competition.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” City’s Jack Grealish told BT Sport.
“I just laughed at the first and second goals. He’s still there.
“The ‘guard’ said something to me as I was walking back. He said, ‘That’s not human!’ I said, ‘Are you telling me?’ Hopefully he can continue this form and lead us to glory.”
Visiting centre-back Davit Khocholava hit his own net as Haaland waited behind him to make it the three before half-time.
Haaland was denied a fourth City hat-trick when he was substituted at the break, but a Riyad Mahrez penalty and Julian Alvarez’s fourth goal for the club completed the defeat.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain three points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund in Group G and will advance to the knockout stages next week with victory in the Danish capital.
Jude Bellingham scored for the third time in as many Champions League matches as Dortmund celebrated 4-1 at Sevilla.
The Spanish club reacted to the defeat – and a disappointingly poor start to the season which saw them 17th in La Liga – by sacking coach Julen Lopetegui just after the final whistle.
