Manchester City escaped with a scare when they opened this year’s Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Red Star. But it was far from over for the reigning champions – and at least for the team’s Norwegian star striker Erling Braut Haaland, who scored 35 goals in 30 games in the tournament. Haaland squandered Just before the game clock passed 25 minutes, the Norwegian record holder had the first big opportunity to score his first Champions League goal this season. Then Phil Forden swung a ball in from the left, Haaland rose to the air and poked the ball towards the goal. Røde Stjerne goalkeeper Omri Glazer couldn’t get his hand up in time, but the header hit the crossbar. FRUSTRATED: Erling Braut Haaland does not enjoy abusing big chances. Photo: Paul ELLIS / AFP Then Chris Sutton reacted on BBC Radio 5 Live: – Since Erling Haaland signed for Manchester City, I can’t remember seeing him abuse so many chances in such a short time. Normally, he devours these opportunities, said Blackburn’s former star forward, with reference to the fact that Haaland also in the weekend’s league match against West Ham abused more than a handful of big chances before he finally put the ball in the goal. After 34, Haaland got the chance again, also this time after a Foden ball from the left. This time the Norwegian got the ball on his normally accurate left foot, but he sent the shot over the goal. – He looks towards the sky. He is not wearing the shooting boots, or has not had them on in the last week, Sutton noted then. Shock management Erling Braut Haaland was not the only one to waste ammunition, however. Because after 44 minutes, City led 22–0 in finishes and 6–0 in finishes on goal. Less than a minute later, the visitors from Belgrade led the game 1–0. SHOCK LEADERSHIP: The Red Star bench exploded when Osman Bukari sent the Serbs into the lead just before the break. Photo: Phil Noble / Reuters The assistant referee was indeed up with the flag after Osman Bukari had finished a lightning-quick counterattack perfectly. But a VAR check showed that there was no question of offside. Thus, Røde Stjerne went to half-time with a lead that must be able to be described as shocking both from the assumed strength ratio and what had happened up to that point in the match. – I think it annoys Pep (Guardiola) enormously when they abuse so many chances, Erik Thorstvedt summarized in TV 2’s studio during the break. However, the former national team captain would not be too harsh in his criticism of Haaland. – Let’s do the math together in the end, then. He still scores an average of one goal per match, and that’s not something to whine about, he stated. See the goals in the match here: Hovmester Haaland And only a minute into the second half, City hit back. Haaland did not score, but served a brilliant stick to striker partner Julian Alvares – who elegantly pryed in 1-1. HIT BACK: Julian Alvares took good care of the smooth pass he received from Erling Braut Haaland immediately after the break. Photo: Oli SCARFF / AFP After 57 minutes of play, Haaland got his third big chance of the match, but Omri Glazer continued his brilliant goalkeeping when he dived down and blocked the shot. Three minutes later, however, Glazer’s first miss of the game came, and it had major consequences. An inward free kick from Julian Alvares went through the goalkeeper’s fist – and into the goal. But for Haaland, it still didn’t want to in the final phase. After 64 minutes of play, he got his fourth chance of the evening. It went through the goalkeeper and into the crossbar. Fortunately for City, it was others who hit better, and after 73 minutes Rodri put in 3–1. Then Pep Guardiola was so confident of victory that he let some of the men of the future go. Among them Norwegian Oscar Bobb – who after two appearances on the rap in the Premier League also made his debut in the Champions League. After only a minute on the field, he sent off a dangerous shot that Omir Glazer had to beat for a corner. Erling Braut Haaland’s records in the Champions League Youngest player to 15 goals: 20 years and 126 days Fastest to 15 goals: 12 games Youngest to 20 goals: 20 years and 231 days Fastest to 20 goals: 14 games Youngest to 25 goals: 22 years and 47 days Fastest to 25 goals: 20 games Youngest to 30 goals: 22 years and 236 days Fastest to 30 goals: 25 games Youngest to 35 goals: 22 years and 272 days Fastest to 35 goals: 27 games Only player to score a hat-trick in the first half on debut Only player to score more than one goal in four consecutive matches Only player to score three goals on debut for three different clubs (Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City) Source: Uefa.com
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