Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City defeated Copenhagen to make it three wins out of three in Champions League Group G.
Haaland’s effort at the fourth hat-trick for City was stopped at halftime, but his first-half double gives him 19 goals in his first 12 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team.
Without him, City was much too swift and intelligent for their Danish opponents, and if it weren’t for Kamil Grabara, the goalkeeper for Copenhagen, the game would have been entirely won by City with more than five goals.
City and Haaland continued where they left off on Sunday and opened their account in less than seven minutes after recently smashing neighbors Manchester United.
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Haaland was in space inside the area when Cancelo’s low cross reached him, and as expected, he finished powerfully with his first touch of the game.
The only surprise was that City didn’t increase its advantage until after the half-hour mark. Then, predictably, Haaland was in the correct spot to score after Grabara parried a shot from Sergio Gomez.
The last thing Copenhagen needed at this point was terrible luck. Still, just before halftime, a Gomez shot took a double deflection off Denis Vavro and then David Khocholava on its way to the goal, adding insult to injury.
Even goal scorers need a break after a win, so Cole Palmer replaced Haaland at halftime as City focused on their next match against Southampton on Saturday.
His departure lessened City’s danger, but they continued to control possession and score more goals.
After Aymeric Laporte was fouled, Riyad Mahrez scored from the spot to make it 4-0. The Algerian striker then switched roles and set up Julian Alvarez to add one more goal from close range.
City dominated, and they will be the favorites to replicate this performance in Denmark the following week, ensuring their advancement to the round of 16.