RAMON SANCHEZ-PIZJUAN STADIUM — Pep Guardiola has often insisted that there is more to Erling Haaland’s game than goals, with the player himself keen to stress as much too.
But after his double helped Manchester City on their way to a most comfortable victory over Sevilla in their Champions League opener with what was, remarkably, the 22-year-old’s 11th and 12th goals for his new side from just seven starts, what else does one want from a centre forward?
City cover all other bases in their multi-faceted squad that is almost robotic in its near perfection at times, so Haaland can be left to do what he does. And nobody even comes close in world football to his incongruous potency in and around the box. Sevilla, like all before them, had no answer.
It was a trip with a difference for City fans in the Sevillian sunshine pre-match.
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Instead of sipping warm Guinness the travelling contingent spread themselves across the city’s plentiful tabernas and bodegas, with some even spotted sharing a platter of pulpo, washed down with Seville’s famous vino de naranja. A bizarrely cultured scene indeed.
The temperature had thankfully cooled down by the time kick-off approached in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, and despite the vociferous home supporters’ attempts to intimidate their opponents with a spine-tingling rendition of their club anthem, the result from the off never looked in doubt.
The omens were good for Sevilla, despite their wretched start to the domestic season.
City came into the contest with just three wins from 13 away Champions League ties against Spanish opposition, while Pep Guardiola had returned victorious from his homeland once from his last seven trips.
But the obvious gulf between the two, even with the visitors handing first starts to summer signings Sergio Gomez and Manuel Akanji, meant City were never in danger this time around, especially with that rather lethal marksman they possess up top.
City settled into their usual supremacy very early on. Haaland was lurking with intent, as he does, not getting involved in the build-up play, waiting for that squared pass. Around 20 minutes in, Kevin De Bruyne provided just that, and that long, rangy leg diverted the ball home.
The striker in fact had four of City’s nine first-half attempts from – yes you guessed it – very few touches (11). Papu Gomez had Sevilla’s only effort at goal of note in the opening period, but blazed it over.
Not a touch is wasted by Haaland. The Norwegian’s next one was to set up De Bruyne just after the interval for an opportunity that should have led to City’s second, but Sevilla goalkeeper Bono found what he was looking for with a fine save.
Away supporters spent much of the second half whistling as loud as they could, disapproving of the way City kept possession for lengthy periods, with consummate ease.
Phil Foden, however, silenced them once and for all with his superbly-taken second into the bottom corner in the 58th minute, firmly ending the match as a contest.
Haaland should have had a second not long after Foden’s goal, hinting he perhaps was willing to show some mercy for those above him in the all-time Champions League top goalscoring charts with a glaring miss, but when presented with an open goal after Foden’s shot was saved, he could resist a late second. Ruben Dias’ stoppage-time tap in was the icing on the cake.
The Haaland stats defy belief. Only 36 players in Champions League history have scored more goals than the Norwegian, who has just played his 20th game in the competition. The records will fall, very soon it seems, given he has potentially 15 years left to break them.
Guardiola is adamant having Haaland doesn’t guarantee City will go on to finally claim that elusive Champions League. But this extraordinary talent does give them by far and away their best chance yet of breaking the curse.
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