By no means was it the perfect performance from Erling Haaland on Wednesday night.
In the first half for Manchester against Borussia Dortmund, the Norwegian barely saw any of the ball with the Blues being frustrated by a severely deep Dortmund defence. Jude Bellingham's close range header towards the hour mark though seemed to jolt City.
With the crowd raucous behind their players as the referee blew for several Dortmund free kicks, City grew into the fixture. Even then, though, it would take two moments of magic to win it for the Blues.
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The first came from an unlikely source as John Stones thundered a rocket past Alexander Meyer. However, the second was from someone who is the new 'Mr Reliable' in front of goal.
Joao Cancelo's beautiful ball into the box was met by the leaping Haaland who directed the cross home. The ability to get up and linger in the air was reminiscent to a player who used to grace the pitch on the other side of Manchester.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored several goals in that manner during his time and the 22-year-old Norwegian was the spitting image of the Scandinavian. Even Rio Ferdinand saw it.
"It’s an unbelievable goal, outrageous finish," the ex-defender told BT Sport. "If you watch Haaland, it goes past him.
"Zlatan is the only player that can do that and have the audacity. That ball from Cancelo is disgusting."
Even Pep Guardiola himself couldn't resist making the comparision in his post-match press conference.
He said: "I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic that [had] this ability to put the leg on the roof and Erling is quite similar on that and I think it is his nature, he is elastic, he is flexible and after has the ability to make the contact and put the ball in the net. I think his mum and dad gave him that flexibility."
But it was not just the uncanny resemblance to Ibrahimovic that shows why Haaland has become City's very own Zlatan. He has the self belief that we have only seen from the Swede.
This was not his night by any means before the 84th minute, however he kept making those runs and it eventually paid off for him and City. It really does feel now that Guardiola has found the missing piece of the puzzle.
Last season, City may have drawn that game, perhaps even lost it. But the confidence that is flowing through this team is clear to see, that is shown and led by their new talisman.
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