Superhero Haaland is pure Hollywood for City

Game-changer

Haaland has now scored 39 goals this season in all competitions. Yet City has faced criticism that it has become more predictable since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

However, his record in Europe could prove a game-changer in City's pursuit of the biggest prize in club soccer.

Despite dominating the Premier League since being taken over by Abu Dhabi's ruling family in 2008, the club has endured a succession of disappointments in the Champions League — reaching the final just once, losing to Chelsea in 2021.

Guardiola is still waiting to win the competition for the first time since lifting it twice with Barcelona — in 2009 and 2011.

The Catalan coach has also never won it without Messi, who was the talisman of his brilliant Barcelona team.

In Haaland, who scored his five goals in a 35-minute spell either side of halftime, he may have finally found an inspirational figure to emulate the Argentine maestro.

"Incredible guy, huge talent. Power, mentality, he's a serial winner," Guardiola said before sounding a note of caution when recounting previous exits from the competition.

"We scored four goals here against Real Madrid, six against Monaco, four against Tottenham. A lot of the time we were out because we conceded a lot."

Haaland wanted to be given the chance to score a double hat-trick, which would have set a new goals record in a single Champions League game.

Guardiola said he did not know that the record was there for the taking.

Haaland has racked up plenty of other personal benchmarks this season, including scoring five hat-tricks for City in all competitions, three more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute when Benjamin Henrichs was adjudged to have handled in the box after a video review.

He had his second and his 30th in the Champions League when heading in a rebound in the 24th after Kevin De Bruyne hit the bar.

His hat-trick goal came in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when bundling the ball over the line after Ruben Dias hit the post with a header.

Ilkay Gundogan made it 4-0 just four minutes into the second half and Haaland scored two more in the 54th and 57th.

De Bruyne rounded off the scoring to make it 7-0 on the night with a curling shot into the top corner in added time.

Guardiola has repeatedly claimed he does not feel added pressure to win the Champions League, but it will remain a blot on his City reign if he cannot deliver the title before walking away from the club.

Haaland could change all of that — and perhaps even tempt Roberts to a City game on her next trip to the UK.

Agencies