Haaland back on the scoresheet in UCL victory as City qualifies from group stage

Premier League club Manchester City has secured qualification for the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League after an easy 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The fixture is the second leg of the tie that happened a fortnight ago in Bern Switzerland where Manchester City won 3-1. On that occasion, Erling Haaland scored a brace for the visitors, with Phil Foden also on the scoresheet.

Erling Haaland was returning from a fitness problem that saw him play just 45 minutes in the weekend’s 6-0 win over Bournemouth and would also going to score a brace this time around as Manchester City, who recorded four wins in four group stage matches totaling 12 points from possible 12 points.

The Norwegian striker opened the scoring from the penalty in the 23rd minute, and in the first-half stoppage time, it was Phil Foden who doubled the advantage. Six minutes after the break, Haaland scored the second goal and helped Manchester City qualify for the next stage of the competition, something that Jack Grealish said had been in the team’s intentions.

: “Every year, we have so many games. Obviously, we are not in the Carabao Cup now, but most of the time, we are in all the competitions. To qualify with two games to spare, that is what we wanted to do. He [Pep Guardiola] gives us so much. In my opinion, he is the best manager in the world. He has shown that over the years. But you can have the best manager in the world, but you also need the team. And that is what we have, a brilliant team on the pitch but also off the pitch. We have a brilliant team that is so close. We love being with each other every day and playing with each other.” Grealish said.

Manchester City will face Chelsea next at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu