Erling Haaland scored two goals as Manchester City thrashed a poor Sevilla team to start their Champions League campaign.
Haaland, a Norwegian attacker, tapped in Kevin de Bruyne’s excellent driving cross for his ninth goal in five games to get City started in Spain.
When the interval, after Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper for the home team, parried Phil Foden’s shot into his path, he was once again on hand to score from close range, increasing his total.
Between those two goals, England midfielder Foden gave City a commanding lead in their Group G opening. Foden teased his defender Nemanja Gudelj before unleashing a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal.
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By sidefooting Joao Cancelo’s cross into the center of an empty goal late in the game, Ruben Dias highlighted the difference in caliber between the Premier League winners and the team that placed fourth in La Liga the previous season.
“With a great move from Phil [Foden], we scored the second goal when they played better. According to City manager Pep Guardiola, who spoke to BT Sport, we made more passes after it became more straightforward.
“Occasionally, we need to move quickly because Erling is around. He has this fascination with you that sometimes makes us want to fight it. So we must exercise more extraordinary patience. Not only now but throughout his career, I believe his stats are very comparable.
He thus has a strong feeling of purpose. We want to keep scoring goals because we have impressive stats doing so.
How City won, and the final score was not very flattering, given the visitors were in control the whole time.
Following their dismal start to the La Liga season, Julen Lopetegui’s team lacked offensive ideas and confidence.
Guardiola gave Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji his professional start since John Stones, and Kyle Walker was out due to minor ailments. Still, other than Alejandro Gomez’s erratic first-half attempt, the hosts didn’t pose much of a danger.
After defeating FC Copenhagen 3-0 in their initial encounter, Borussia Dortmund moved into second place in the group on goal differential after City’s convincing victory.
