Scoring goals in the Champions League is the Sweetest Thing for Erling Haaland – particularly against Bono.
Manchester City Still Haven't Found What They're Looking For in the Champions League, but in Haaland, they may now have the One to take them all the way.
Haaland made it 12 goals in seven games for City since his £51million move from Borussia Dortmund, taking his total in the Champions League to 25 in just 20 appearances.
In three outings against Sevilla, Haaland has now put past goalkeeper Bono, tormenting him again here with a double and making it a Beautiful Day for City, who made a winning start to Group G.
With so many defensive injuries, City boss Pep Guardiola handed first starts to new signings Manuel Akanji and Sergio Gomez, the former making his debut following his deadline day move from Borussia Dortmund.
Sevilla came into the game on the back of a wretched run in La Liga, a solitary point from four games having left them down in 16th place and under-pressure coach Julen Lopetegui facing an uncertain future.
Against that backdrop, Haaland was the last player Sevilla wanted to face, the 22-year-old having scored four in his previous two appearances against the Spanish side. And on his return to the Ramon-Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Haaland was in no mood to show Sevilla any mercy.
City went ahead in the 20th minute, Sevilla prised open by a devastating quick move, Phil Foden sliding the ball through to Kevin De Bruyne, who picked out Haaland, the forward converting from close range.
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De Bruyne came close to making it 2-0 moments later but sent a free-kick into the side-netting, but City were in total command, keeping the ball with composure and plonking their opponents on the dizzying passing carousel that leaves so many teams in a spin.
By half-time, City had managed nine attempts on goal to Sevilla's two, Guardiola's side confirming the gulf in class between the two sides, stepping up a gear in the second half.
De Bruyne should have doubled City's lead three minutes after the restart, when one-on-one with Bono, but he turned the midfielder's shot behind for a corner with a fine save.
Foden plundered the second goal city's dominance deserved just before the hour., turning sharply just inside the 18-yard box and wrong-footing Bono with a clever low left-foot finish into the right-hand corner of the net.
There was an uncharacteristic miss from Haaland moments later, but he atoned in the 67th minute, turning the ball in for his second goal of the night, after Bono had spilled a Foden shot, with Dias making it four in added time.
There was not to be a third hat-trick in four games for Haaland, as Guardiola took the opportunity to replace him with 20 minutes left, to keep him fresh for Saturday's visit of Tottenham.
But with Haaland scoring for fun, City have the Edge – and certainly the Desire – to go all the way to the final in Istanbul next June and finally conquer Europe.
