It was the Erling Haaland show once again at the Etihad as Manchester City hammered Copenhagen 5-0 in the Champions League.
The Citizens ran riot on Wednesday at the expense of their Danish opponents, with Haaland scoring twice before he was hauled off at half-time. The striking sensation now has 28 goals in 22 Champions League games, affirming his status as a bona fide superstar just weeks into his City career.
Sergio Gomez is also flourishing at his new club, forcing the own goal which made it 3-0. Second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez made it even more of a comfortable night for Pep Guardiola, who'll have guided the Citizens into the knockout stages if they record yet another win next week in Denmark.
Here are the winners and losers from the Etihad.
Winners
Erling Haaland
When is this fella not a winner? 19 goals and counting, it took the 22-year-old sensation less than seven minutes to mark only his 12th appearance for City with yet another strike. Set up by Joao Cancelo, Haaland - with merely his first touch of the game - lashed home past ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, who could do nothing but dive in vain.
Then came his second goal of the night in the 33rd minute, a tap-in after Grabara had once again done his level-best to deny Sergio Gomez's long-range volley. And if that didn't kill off Copehagen's glimmer of hope, the next goal would.
Sergio Gomez
As City's more lesser-known summer signing, the Spanish defender has had to be patient in waiting for his chance to strut his stuff at the Etihad Stadium. But when Gomez got the nod on Wednesday, he didn't waste the chance to impress Pep Guardiola, registering an assist for Haaland's second goal and making one of his own within the first 39 minutes.
The left-back, brought in from Anderlecht following the departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal, took aim from the edge of the penalty area before two Copenhagen defenders attempted to block his effort. Unfortunately for them, the ball only whizzed past the helpless Grabara to make it 3-0 before half-time.
Riyad Mahrez
After Pep Guardiola threw down the gauntlet pre-match, City's left-footed wizard bagged his first goal of the season to cap an encouraging performance on the right flank. Dispatching a penalty early in the second half, Mahrez reminded his manager that he's still got a role to play this season after being challenged by him ahead of the game.
When quizzed on the Algerian's lack of game-time so far this term on Tuesday, Guardiola simply replied: "He has to come back in a better physical condition and after that the best will come because as a player I cannot teach him anything because he is so good."
Julian Alvarez
On a night when plenty of City's attackers enjoyed themselves, Alvarez had to be patient to get in on the act. The 22-year-old Argentine spent most of the match in wide areas, but as the Copenhagen defenders began to tire in the dying embers, he snuck in for a simple finish to make it five.
Alvarez hadn't been on the scoresheet for the Citizens since August 31 but has showed plenty of promise in the games since. Both his homeland and his new club have high hopes for the feared, so the Citizens might have another top-level striker on their hands.
Pep Guardiola
Although no one would've questioned City's credentials to get out of their Champions League group, three wins from three games mean that the Citizens boss can truly relax and begin to look ahead to the knockout stages. With qualification in sight, it gives Guardiola even more license to rotate his starting XI for the trips to Dortmund, Copenhagen and home clash with Sevilla.
As they find themselves every season, his side are tipped to lift the trophy when all's said and done, with the Champions League looming as the only title missing from Guardiola's trophy cabinet in Manchester. Judging by the sensational start they've had, you simply can't right City off.
Have your say! Will Man City win the Champions League this season? Let us know your prediction in the comments section.
Losers
Kyle Walker
Yes, he's injured and yes, he's still one of Pep Guardiola's stalwarts, but the end of Walker's time as a sure start for City in the biggest game is only getting closer. With Sergio Gomez looking comfortable at left-back and Joao Cancelo's quality on the right being undisputed, no one could criticise Guardiola if he sticks with the same full-back duo for next few fixtures.
Jack Grealish
A harsh call given his fluid display, but Grealish's failure to add neither a goal nor an assist will only garner him more criticism. The England star's frustration at not getting on the scoresheet was clear throughout the night. Still, Grealish's mesmerising run to help set up Alvarez's goal deserves a mention and it's only a matter of time before the £100million racks up the numbers.
