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Manchester City secured a place in the Champions League quarterfinals with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Leipzig, thanks to an outstanding performance by Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker scored five goals to take his tally for the season to an incredible 40 goals in all competitions.
City started the game on the front foot and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Haaland buried a penalty into the bottom corner after a foul in the box. Two minutes later, Haaland scored his second of the game with a powerful header after Kevin De Bruyne’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.
Just before halftime, Haaland completed his hat-trick with a fortunate goal, as the ball appeared to cross the line after Ruben Dias’ header hit the post and rebounded off Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara into Haaland’s path.
City continued their dominance in the second half and added to their lead in the 49th minute with a stunning team goal finished by Ilkay Gundogan. But it was Haaland who stole the show once again, scoring his fourth and fifth goals of the game in the 53rd and 57th minutes respectively, with two close-range finishes following rebounds from saves by Leipzig goalkeeper Alexander Blaswich.
Pep Guardiola decided to take Haaland off in the 63rd minute to give him a well-deserved rest after a stunning individual display. With this result, Manchester City marched on to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in style, while Leipzig were left to rue a nightmarish evening.
Goal! Manchester City 7-0 Leipzig
Kevin De Bruyne grabs a deserved goal just before the full-time whistle to secure a 7-0 win for Pep Guardiola’s side
Goal! Manchester City 6-0 Leipzig
Okay, this is getting silly now. FIVE for Haaland, who has now broken that City single-season scoring record. Blaswich denies Akanji but again Haaland reacts fastest to turn home another rebound.
Goal! Manchester City 5-0 Leipzig
Four for Haaland, who with 38 goals has just matched City’s all-time single-season scoring record!
A corner is headed back across goal to the Norwegian, who rises like a salmon to head on target. Blaswich makes an initial save and then also denies Akanji, but Haaland is there to blast in his fourth.
Goal! Manhester City 4-0 Leipzig
A frankly ridiculous team goal from City that starts from Ederson and is eventually arrowed into the bottom corner by Gundogan, via several players including De Bruyne, Haaland and Grealish.
Second half
Here we go again!
Half-time
And breathe! Leipzig have a huge mountain to climb, do they have what it takes?
Goal! Manchester City 3-0 Leipzig
More brilliant play from De Bruyne earns a City corner, which Dias heads onto the post. The ball rolls across the line before Haidara tries to clear but fires straight into Haaland.
Had the ball already crossed from the Dias header? I don’t think so! City are in absolute cruise control, leading 4-1 on aggregate now.
Goal! Manchester City 2-0 Leipzig
Two goals in 78 seconds for Haaland and City! They quickly win the ball back with that suffocating high press and De Bruyne rattles the crossbar with a terrific strike.
Haaaland then reacts fastest, rising high to steer home the rebound. City have started like a train here and look to be cruising through to the Champions League quarter-finals. Leipzig have an absolute mountain to climb now.
Goal! Manchester City 1-0 Leipzig
A short run-up from Haaland, who buries his penalty into the bottom corner. Blaswich went the right way, but no chance he was keeping that out. Haaland’s 35th goal of the season. City up 2-1 on aggregate
Kick off!
Here we go!
Starting XI
So Pep Guardiola shows just the one change from the side that beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Phil Foden is the man that drops to the bench to accomodate Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the starting XI, with first-leg scorer Riyad Mahrez also staying among the substitutes. That is also the case for Kyle Walker. Walker and Mahrez are the two to drop out from the first leg, replaced by John Stones and De Bruyne.
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