Whereas many across the Etihad would have been anticipating a much more routine efficiency on Wednesday night time, Manchester Metropolis did handle to assert back-to-back Champions League victories.
Mounting one other trademark Etihad comeback within the closing 10 minutes, a quickfire brace from John Stones and the red-hot Erling Haaland helped the Premier League giants declare a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Left shocked after England worldwide Jude Bellingham opened the scoring minutes after the restart, Pep Guardiola would have definitely been impressed by the resolve that his aspect confirmed right here.
Finally discovering a method to construct off of their thumping 4-0 romp away at Sevilla when opening their European journey final week, what did we be taught from Wednesday’s showdown in Manchester?
Haaland will break the entire information
Making the transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer season after Manchester Metropolis activated his £51.5million launch clause, all eyes have firmly been on Haaland since arriving in England.
Setting Europe alight throughout his time in rural Germany after bagging 86 targets in 89 video games for BVB, there is no such thing as a doubt that the Norwegian talisman has cemented his place as considered one of world soccer’s most coveted strikers.
Opening his Champions League account final week because the 22-year-old bagged a brace in Metropolis’s 4-0 victory away at Sevilla, it seems that the ex-Dortmund star goes to shatter all home and European information.
Producing a second of brilliance on Wednesday night time as his acrobatic volley left his former teammates heartbroken, Haaland has solely continued to realize a fearsome repute from throughout Europe.
Actually, his midweek aim right here was his thirteenth of the season and his twenty sixth in simply 21 Champions League appearances.
Laying down yet one more marker and spearheading a Manchester Metropolis aspect which have their sights set on making actual historical past this 12 months, can anybody cease Haaland this season?
Bellingham is already a famous person
Whereas he might need as soon as once more discovered himself on the improper finish of a 3rd conductive 2-1 loss by the hands of Man Metropolis right here, Bellingham as soon as once more underlined why he’s considered one of Europe’s most enjoyable younger prospects.
Opening the scoring right here simply 11 minutes after the half-time break and placing in a Man of the Match show on Wednesday night time, the one-time Birmingham starlet finds his inventory at an all-time excessive.
Now discovering the online in each of Dortmund’s opening Champions League appearances, Bellingham has additionally been tipped to play a key function in England’s World Cup journey later within the 12 months.
Nonetheless simply 19 years of age, it’s no shock that the 15-cap worldwide stays closely linked with a number of European heavyweights.
Whereas Bellingham might need made the choice to increase his keep in rural Germany by one other season, it has been prompt that the likes of Actual Madrid could possibly be eager on breaking the financial institution when the window reopens in January.
Receiving reward from throughout the footballing world right here, it’s believed that Dortmund may demand within the area of £100million for his or her midfield talisman.
Manchester Metropolis can go all the best way
Though Manchester Metropolis may not have been at their free-flowing greatest for giant spells on Wednesday night time, Guardiola’s males are nonetheless tipped as a number one contender this time round.
Left heartbroken out in Madrid final season as they ultimately fell to a exceptional 6-5 mixture defeat within the Spanish capital, the Sky Blues are determined to go one step additional.
Whereas the previous Barcelona boss might need seen his star-studded squad win 4 of the earlier 5 Premier League titles, a primary European success nonetheless eludes them.
Nonetheless, opening their Champions League run with a thumping 4-0 victory away at Sevilla final week, the English giants ought to quietly fancy their probabilities of making historical past this season.
Already with one foot within the knockout stage of this 12 months’s match and with their new attacking icon solely persevering with to interrupt each home and European information by the week, Guardiola will know that stability is essential.
Match Report:
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish
Subs: Silva, Phillips, Alvarez, Foden
Borussia Dortmund: Meyer, Meunier, Sule, Hummels, Guerreiro, Bellingham, Can, Ozcan, Reyna, Modeste, Reus
Subs: Malen, Moukoko, Adeyemi, Schlotterbeck
Objectives: Manchester Metropolis: Stones (80′), Haaland (84′) – Borussia Dortmund: Bellingham (56′)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester Metropolis: Rodri, Foden – Borussia Dortmund: Malen, Ozcan
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Daniele Orsato
