Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City made a winning start to their Champions League campaign, defeating Porto 2-0 away from home. The Norwegian had already tested Diogo Costa three times before the interval, with the Porto goalkeeper producing a succession of excellent stops to keep City at bay.
But he could do nothing shortly after the restart when Haaland’s header bounced into the bottom corner.
Porto responded with greater attacking purpose and spent much of the second half forcing City onto the back foot. The hosts, however, were unable to turn a number of mistakes from the visitors into a goal.
City eventually secured the result in stoppage time. Haaland finished clinically into the bottom corner to reach 167 goals for the club,
moving him into third place on City’s all-time scoring list.
“We have all the pressure we have to deliver on the biggest stage, and that’s what we did today,” Haaland told Amazon Prime. “These are the games you have to win and we’ve got a great start to the season. In the Champions League you have to win games, because if not, suddenly you get all the pressure, and then you never know what’s going to happen.”
The result continues a promising beginning for Enzo Maresca, who faces the considerable challenge of replacing Pep Guardiola in the City dugout. The club backed their new manager with a record £460 million ($620 million) spent on new arrivals.
Yet Haaland remains central to City’s ambitions. After Norway’s World Cup triumph, the striker has carried his form into the new season, scoring five times across his first four matches.
Maresca gave Ayyoub Bouaddi his first start following his 100 million euro (£85.6 million, $117 million) transfer from Lille.
Despite that huge fee, the Moroccan teenager ranks only third among City’s most expensive midfield signings this window, with Enzo Fernandez and Elliott Anderson both costing more than £100 million.
Bouaddi and Fernandez were particularly influential as City produced an impressive first-half display, with only Costa’s brilliance preventing the visitors from taking the lead.
The Porto goalkeeper reacted superbly to Haaland’s powerful header, launching himself to his left to keep out City’s first major opportunity.
Costa then denied Haaland again, making two outstanding saves after Bouaddi and Phil Foden combined to create the opening.
City finally found the breakthrough just two minutes after the restart. Fernandez delivered the cross and Haaland’s header, lacking the force of his earlier attempt, crept inside the bottom corner after Costa was sent the wrong way.
The goal changed the complexion of the match. Porto became far more adventurous, while City’s intensity dropped.
Donnarumma survived a major scare when the offside flag came to his rescue after the goalkeeper had sprinted from his area and brought down Pepe in what otherwise appeared certain to be a penalty.
The Italian was involved in another nervous moment when William Gomes closed down his attempted clearance. The ball deflected away and narrowly missed the target.
City had shown similar vulnerability late in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry, when they struggled to maintain control in the closing stages.
There was no repeat of that nervy finish in Porto. Haaland put the game beyond doubt by converting Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross in stoppage time, registering his 59th Champions League goal in his 59th appearance in the competition.
With AFP Inputs
