It was not a perfect performance from either Manchester City or Erling Haaland but the result will do just fine. And with his first two goals in the Champions League in six games, the striker served notice he might just be coming to the boil nicely for the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Haaland’s first came from the penalty spot and his second a hooked instinctive finish into the roof of the net on 86 minutes delivered a 37th in just 33 Champions League games. It added to Manuel Akanji’s 48th minute opener, equalised by Meschack Ellia’s deft chip, to give City a comfortable scoreline and nine points from three matches in Group G.
This was job done in Switzerland and it lent a hefty shove to their prospects of securing safe passage to the knockout stages at the earliest possible opportunity.
Qualification can be secured in the reverse fixture at the Etihad on November 7 and while Leipzig’s win over Red Star Belgrade last night means they need more to guarantee the preress as gropu winners they top the group but it would allow them to face the Germans in between.
Guardiola had made seven changes to the side which had beaten Brighton on Saturday – Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Rodri and Manuel Akanji the survivors. And in truth, a side lacking the benched trio of Phil Foden, Bernardo and Alvarez looked short of attacking intent and creativity.
By their standards City were anaemic in the first half of this contest, their best chance falling to Jeremy Doku who fluffed a weak shot straight at Anthony Racioppi. Rodri, with a header from a Matheus Nunes corner, and Erling Haaland, after he was slipped through by Akanji, bookended the Belgian’s fluff with misses of their own. Yet as the half wore on City’s chances kept coming.
A Grealish shot was spilled, Loris Benito hooking it off the line after the goalkeeper’s save had richocheted off Nunes, while Doku and Rodri both forced Racioppi into a couple of decent saves.
The opening period was a frustrating one with City too often choosing a safe or sideways option when quick vertical passing looked a better option
Guardiola hopped and shouted on the sideline – his frustration with Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish evident when the pair failed to make positive choices. That frustration could have boiled over close to the half time break had it not been for a good covering tackle from Nathan Ake, Young Boys springing Cedric Itten clear on a swift counter only for the forward to delay pulling the trigger.
City took advantage quickly in the second half Akanji poking home from close range after Dias shot from Rodri’s cross had been pushed on to the bar by Racioppi, the defender reacting quickest in a crowded box. It was a goal received glumly by the home fans given Akanji’s previous with Basel but the gloom did not last long Meschack Elia equalised.
It was a direct goal, Elia racing on to a long ball over the top from Cheikh Niasse, but his finish anything but route one with the forward producing a deft sand wedge finish over Ederson from the edge of the box. The goal filled the hosts with belief and the crowd responded.
But the hope was punctured on 67 minutes when Mohamed Ali Camara was adjudged to have clipped Rodri in the box and Haaland stepped up to convert the penalty.
Julian Alvarez thought he had added a third shortly after coming on as substitute only for it to ruled out for Grealish handball in the build up. But Haaland swept home with four minutes to
It looked a harsh call and City ground salt into the wound when Julian Alavrez added another on 74 minutes only for some measure of balance to come when the goal was ruled out for a handball by Jack Grealish in the build up. But Haaland’s finish, switching the ball on to his right foot eight 10 yards out and firing high into the net, confirmed the result.
