Erling Haaland added another brace to his tally this season against FC Copenhagen
(Picture: Manchester City FC via Getty Images)Erling Haaland overtook Rivaldo and Luis Suarez on 28 goals in just 22 Champions League games as Manchester City ran out comfortable winners over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
The Norway international struck a first-half brace as the superlatives around him continue to run dry. While Haaland’s first, a powerful finish from inside the box to sweep Joao Cancelo’s driven cross home, came after only six minutes, even that would have felt like a lifetime for the away side.
Pep Guardiola deployed what was effectively a front five in possession as Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish swarming around Haaland, who missed two good chances as City threatened to run riot.
City had their second when Haaland reacted first to Sergio Gomez’s deflected shot into the box as the 22-year-old tapped in to an empty net. Before the interval, the home side would add a third after another deflected shot from Gomez was turned into his own net by Davit Khocholava.
Guardiola then afforded Haaland (and Copenhagen) some rest after the break, though Mahrez was able to add to their tally by converting a penalty after Aymeric Laporte was brought down in the box by Marko Stamenic in the aftermath of a short corner.
Alvarez then added a fifth with a tap-in after some incisive interplay from Grealish and Mahrez to secure a routine win.
