Manchester City secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a commanding 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday.
Image of Erling Haaland celebrating his goal against Young Boys
Despite missing John Stones due to a muscle injury, Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100% record in Group G and extended their lead to 12 points from four games. Young Boys, who had Sandro Lauper sent off in the 53rd minute, remain fourth in the group with just one point.
Erling Haaland continued his remarkable goalscoring form, netting a brace to take his tally to 39 goals in just 34 Champions League appearances. The Norwegian striker is now on course to break the record for fewest appearances to reach 40 goals in the competition, currently held by Ruud van Nistelrooy with 45 games.
Our perfect start to the #UCL campaign continues! 💪#ManCity pic.twitter.com/WIgBrdf0OO
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 7, 2023
Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Lauper’s foul on Matheus Nunes. Just before halftime, Phil Foden doubled City’s lead with a low shot from inside the box.
Haaland’s second goal came in the 51st minute, a stunning left-footed strike from 20 yards out. The 23-year-old, who had traded shirts with Young Boys captain Mohamed Ali Camara at halftime, was substituted to a standing ovation a few minutes later.
City could have easily added to their lead, but Rico Lewis’s attempt was cleared off the line by Loris Benito, and Jeremy Doku’s late cross was just too far ahead for Nunes.
“We knew it’s very difficult here, to get a point or a win, you need to have the kind of a game, the perfect game in every phase of the game,” said Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky.
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🩵 2-0 🟡 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/fJBSIshUcR
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 7, 2023
City are unbeaten in their last 17 Champions League matches, a run dating back to their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals in May 2022.
“To qualify with two games to spare, that is what we wanted to do,” said Jack Grealish. “He (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, 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.”
City host RB Leipzig on November 28 and then cap the group stage with a visit to Red Star Belgrade on December 13.
