Sevilla 0-4 Man City: Erling Haaland scores twice in comfortable Champions League opening win

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign by thrashing a dismal Sevilla side.

He added to his tally after the break when he was again on hand to score from close range after home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou parried Phil Foden’s shot into his path.

In between, England midfielder Foden had given City a healthy cushion in their Group G opener, teasing his marker Nemanja Gudelj before sweeping a left-foot effort into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Ruben Dias underlined the gulf in class between the Premier League champions and the side that finished fourth in La Liga last term late on, side-footing Joao Cancelo’s cross into the middle of an empty net.

“When they were playing better we scored the second one with a brilliant action from Phil [Foden]. Then after it was easier – we gave more passes,” City manager Pep Guardiola told BT Sport.

“Sometimes we want to rush so quick because Erling is there. You have this attraction of him, we want to attack it sometimes. We have to be more patient. I think his numbers across his career, not just here, is quite similar.

“So he has an incredible sense of goal. We have incredible numbers in scoring goals, so we want to continue like that.”

The manner of City’s victory and final scoreline was not unduly flattering, with the visitors dominant throughout.

Julen Lopetegui’s side looked short of attacking ideas and bereft of confidence after their winless start to the La Liga season.

With John Stones and Kyle Walker missing because of minor injuries Guardiola handed a debut to Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji, but aside from a wild first-half effort from Alejandro Gomez, the hosts barely threatened.

The comprehensive win sends City top of their group, with Borussia Dortmund second on goal difference after beating FC Copenhagen 3-0 in their opening match.

Haaland’s incredible start continues

City’s only previous trip to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium came almost seven years ago when Wilfried Bony scored in comfortable 3-1 win.

This performance was even more assured, with Guardiola’s side monopolising possession against their hosts who offered little threat to counter.

Predictably Haaland, who is seen by many as the man who can be the final piece of the jigsaw as City chase European glory, came to the fore again.

The forward maintained his incredible start to his City career as he knocked in goals 11 and 12 from his eight appearances for the club.

Neither were remarkable, but both owed to his exceptional ability to read the game and anticipate the cross from De Bruyne, as well as Bounou’s mistake.

Both his finishes were from no more than eight yards out, again underlining his capacity to operate with clinical efficiency from a limited number of touches (19), and they contributed to City’s biggest ever win against Spanish opposition.

Player of the match

HaalandErling Haaland

Sevilla

1. Squad number5Player nameDolberg

2. Squad number13Player nameBono

3. Squad number16Player nameNavas

4. Squad number30Player nameCarmona

5. Squad number7Player nameSuso

6. Squad number12Player nameRafa Mir

7. Squad number8Player nameJordán

8. Squad number19Player nameAcuña

9. Squad number10Player nameRakitic

10. Squad number14Player nameNianzou

11. Squad number18Player nameDelaney

12. Squad number24Player namePapu Gómez

13. Squad number22Player nameIsco

14. Squad number6Player nameGudelj

15. Squad number11Player nameJanuzaj

16. Squad number3Player nameAlex Telles