Toba Owojaiye Reporting
In a relatively routine 3-1 win for Manchester City against Young Boys, the spotlight fell on Erling Haaland, who managed to overcome his missed chances and ended his Champions League goal drought with two strikes. However, there were some concerns about his overall form.
The match got off to a slow start on the astroturf pitch, with a scrappy goal from Manuel Akanji giving City the lead in the second half. Young Boys quickly responded with a goal from Meschak Elia. A fortuitous penalty awarded to City saw Haaland convert and break his five-game Champions League goalless streak.
He later secured the victory with an impressive top-corner finish, taking his season tally to 11 goals, setting the stage for the upcoming Manchester derby.
In the goalkeeping and defense department, Ederson was kept busy but showed questionable positioning for Young Boys’ goal. Manuel Akanji scored but allowed Young Boys too many opportunities. Ruben Dias, usually solid, appeared exposed in the back three, while Nathan Ake was a standout performer, making crucial tackles.
In the midfield, Rico Lewis had a significant drop in performance compared to his previous masterclass in Leipzig, while Rodri acted as City’s driving force in the middle. Matheus Nunes had opportunities to score but lost the ball in important areas, and Mateo Kovacic contributed with slick, short passing.
On the attacking front, Jeremy Doku was lively in the first half but failed to convert a scoring chance. Haaland, despite not appearing at his best, managed to score twice, showcasing his remarkable goal-scoring ability. Jack Grealish was the standout player of the match, potentially earning his place in the starting lineup for the upcoming derby. Julian Alvarez had a goal disallowed by VAR.
Pep Guardiola made seven changes with the Manchester derby in mind, and despite the adjustments, his side controlled most of the match, earning a comfortable victory.
Haaland’s return to goal-scoring form is undoubtedly a positive sign for City, but the team will need to tighten up their defense and find consistency in midfield to tackle the challenges ahead, especially in high-stakes matches like the Manchester derby.