Almost didn’t touch the ball for half an hour – then Erling Braut Haaland scored goal no. 52 – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule

Haaland was hardly involved until he scored the 52nd goal of the season for Manchester City in all competitions – the 36th in the Premier League alone. – He did not touch the ball for 27 minutes. But he doesn’t need many touches – he’s so clinical, says Sky Sports’ reporter. Far more involved was teammate Ilkay Gündogan who scored two in his 300th game for the club. The German played a leading role to that extent, with two goals and one assist for Haaland. IMPORTANT: Both Gündogan (tv) and Haaland were important for City against Everton. Photo: CARL RECINE / Reuters Even with Haaland on the bench in the final minutes, it was City’s victory and the necessary points to stay ahead of Martin Ødegaard in the title race. Ødegaard and Arsenal play at 17.30 Saturday. – Just to frame and hang on After a mostly chance-poor half at Goodison Park, City scored both one and two goals past Jordan Pickford. First up was Ilkay Gündogan, who in his 300th game for City managed to poke the ball into the goal with his back. The City veteran took the ball on his thigh before finishing backwards and in at the near post. – Just frame and hang on the wall. It is an art scoring. Body control, ball control and finishing skills at the very highest level, said Pål André Helland in the Viaplay studio. Barely two minutes later, Jærbuen was ready to score his 52nd goal of the season. Gündogan moved into the role of waiter, lifted the ball into the box and Haaland used his head to make it 2-0 to City. WRONG WAY: Haaland sent Pickford in the opposite direction when he put in 2-0. Photo: Jon Super / AP The scoring means that he is now 11 goals behind the record many thought could never be touched: Did it again Just after the break, Gündogan made a comeback in the role of goalscorer – this time from a free kick. The German made a short run and lifted the ball over the wall and into the goal. Gündogan was the first signing of coach Pep Guardiola when he came to the club in 2016. Since then, there have been 300 games and 58 goals in light blue for the 32-year-old. In the 78th minute, both Haaland and Gündogan were replaced in favor of Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish respectively. It is conceivable that Guardiola is thinking of resting some of his key players. Because already on Wednesday, 17 May, the important return match against Real Madrid in the Champions League awaits. Then it is about a place in the final in the Champions League. But it was a win against Everton even without the goalscorers on tap. The win is also City’s 500th in the Premier League. Only Manchester United (723), Arsenal (644), Chelsea (629), Liverpool (627) and Tottenham (519) have more, writes NTB.



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