For 89 minutes, Erling Haaland had endured one of his quieter games. Crowded out by Burnley’s three centre-backs, he had an assist but his regular mantle as match-winner was being passed to an improbable combination of Matheus Nunes and Maxime Esteve. And by the time the final whistle was blown, Haaland had a brace to take his tally to 14 goals in his last seven outings for club and country.
Such can be the way for a player with a rapacious appetite for scoring. Such can be the way when these teams meet, too: this was the sixth time in Burnley’s last seven trips to the Etihad Stadium that Manchester City scored at least five goals.
