Shaun
Match report as Erling Haaland’s 50th Champions League goal and Jeremy Doku’s neat finish earned Manchester City a comfortable win over 10-man Napoli after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card; Pep Guardiola’s side go into Arsenal clash on Super Sunday in form
It took a VAR review for the Napoli skipper to be sent off but the replays clearly showed he had failed to get a foot on the ball, his outstretched boot catching Haaland when the Norwegian was clean through. De Bruyne’s return over just like that.
Antonio Conte knew that it would be a case of dogged resistance thereafter, for which he required graft not craft and his players responded with some stoic defending. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic produced a series of stunning saves to keep Napoli level at the break.
City had 16 shots in the first half alone but Napoli could not keep them out indefinitely. Phil Foden’s scooped pass found Haaland and the striker’s deft header was too good for even Milinkovic-Savic. Fifty Champions League goals in just 49 games. The fastest ever.
Doku danced through to add a second soon after. The Belgium winger starred in the Manchester derby win at the weekend alongside Foden and Haaland. In this form, Guardiola’s trio of attackers go into Sunday’s showdown with Arsenal full of optimism.
Guardiola: Man City have a different feeling
Man City manager Pep Guardiola speaking on TNT:
“We started better than the last season when we drew against Inter here. We played a lot of minutes against 10, it was an advantage, but at the same time we were not, I would say, stressed in that situation. But we played well with 11 and it was a big victory against an incredible side.
“The team in the last two games took another feeling. Our composure defensively, offensively, our body language is unbelievably good.
“It’s a tough week. We have an incredible challenge on Sunday, but going there with these feelings is much better.”
On Doku: “In smaller spaces, over five metres, he’s unstoppable. If you come inside, then you can attack central defenders. The last two games were really, really good.”
Haaland’s Champions League record
The striker’s 50 goals have come in just 49 Champions League appearances, which is 13 fewer than it took previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy to achieve the feat.
Haaland has now scored 130 goals for Manchester City in 151 appearances across all competitions, with 74 of those goals coming in 71 games at the Etihad Stadium.
He goes into Sunday’s showdown against Arsenal in fine form having scored an astonishing 12 goals in seven appearances for club and country so far this season.
