Erling Haaland broke out of a mini-UEFA Champions League scoring slump with a pair of goal to help Manchester City secure a 3-1 victory away to Swiss side BSC Young Boys on Wednesday.
With three wins from three games, Man City (9 points), sit atop of Group G at the halfway point, three points clear of RB Leipzig. Pep Guardiola’s side will host Leipzig in a likely group decider in matchweek 5 (Nov. 28).
Manchester City enjoyed a near-monopoly on possession in the first half (75 percent) as they out-passed Young Boys 369-100, with a 195-31 advantage in the opposition half (18-4 in the opposition penalty area), and they put six of 10 shots on target. It was all very methodical and composed from the reigning European champions, but ultimately fruitless.
The deadlock was broken not long after halftime, when Manuel Akanji cleaned up a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box to record his first Manchester City goal in the 48th minute. The lead lasted just four minutes, though, as Young Boys hit back through an unexpected counter-attack which ended with winger Meschack Elia lobbing the out-rushing Ederson from 20 yards out.
Young Boys suddenly found themselves on the front foot and briefly pressed forward for another, but Man City regained the lead in the 67th minute after Rodri was fouled inside the penalty area. Haaland stepped to the spot, sent the goalkeeper diving one way and cushioned the ball down the middle for his first Champions League goal of the season.
Julian Alvarez put the ball in the back of the net a few minutes after Haaland restored the lead, but the goal was eventually ruled out by video review. Never fear, Man City fans, for Haaland hammered home a right-footed curler four minutes before full-time.
What’s next?
Manchester City will continue their Premier League title defense with the Manchester derby, away to Man United on Sunday. Their Champions League defense resumes with Wednesday’s reverse fixture, hosting Young Boys at Etihad Stadium on Nov. 7.
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