Manchester City’s superstar Erling Haaland celebrated a perfect comeback before the Champions League duel with FC Bayern Munich.
After surviving a groin injury, the Norwegian scored twice in the English football champions’ confident 4-1 (1-0) win at bottom FC Southampton. Coach Pep Guardiola’s team welcomes FC Bayern to the first leg of the quarter-finals in the premier class on Tuesday (9:00 p.m. / Prime Video).
“I’m very happy with his performance after his injury,” said Guardiola after the game. “The first half wasn’t at our best level but he changed the game.” With regard to the Bayern match, the former Munich coach said about Haaland: “We need him.”
The former Dortmund player took the lead in the city shortly before the half-time whistle. After Jack Grealish made it 2-0 (58th minute), the 22-year-old increased the lead to 3-0 (68th) with a spectacular lateral pull following Grealish’s preliminary work. For Haaland it was already the 30th goal of the season. After Sékou Mara’s 1:3 (72nd), Argentina’s world champion Julian Alvarez scored the final 4:1 with a penalty kick (75th).
With 67 points, Manchester City are currently five points behind leaders Arsenal. The Gunners are guests on Sunday (5.30 p.m. / Sky) at Jürgen Klopps FC Liverpool.
