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Erling Haaland scored five goals to power Manchester City into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-0 win over RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
The game was lopsided after a 1-1 draw in Germany, but Haaland took the game away from City’s opponents with a first-half hat-trick and added two more before the hour mark in a stunning night. His tally for the current season stands at 39.
Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne got the other goals but the evening went to the 22-year-old Norwegian. He became the first man in nine years to score five in a Champions League game and could have done more had Pep Guardiola not stepped down.
The City boss knows there are bigger tests ahead and although Arsenal remain five points clear in the Premier League title race, Guardiola’s side are now in the second quarter-final – and Haaland is in this mood – a spectacular finale to the season could still be deceiving. front.
How Haaland blew Leipzig away
On the first night he came from the penalty spot, a harsh handball decision against Benjamin Henrichs after a VAR review. The second, just two minutes later, was superb, a high header after De Bruyne’s shot hit the crossbar.
The third ricocheted out from barely a yard out after Ruben Dias’ header had rolled along the line, but Haaland made a habit of being in the right place. Fifth hat-trick of the season at this stadium. The second came before the half-time whistle.
Ederson was lucky to escape a penalty when he tackled Konrad Laimer after racing out of his area, while Timo Werner missed a well-placed spot-kick to pull one back. But the occasional sloppiness in the back never really looks like it’s worth it.
Not when they are so powerful at the other end of the field.
Not when Haaland is there.
The fourth was a brilliant team goal involving the forwards and finished with Jack Grealish setting up Gundogan for a left-footed effort into the far corner. With Leipzig beaten, all the talk about Haaland struggling to see the ball is funny – it looks like he’s drawn.
Haaland was the star of the show as Manchester City beat RB Leipzig
Janis Blaswich did well to save her header but was unable to return it. Then he got his fifth when the goalkeeper denied Manuel Akanji but he wasn’t the man he was. There was almost disbelief at this point. Only his substitution saved the Bundesliga team.
De Bruyne has the last word. In a week when his manager told him to focus on the simple things, he completed the defeat by curling the ball into the top corner of the net with the last kick of the match. More brilliance from Belgium.
With the famous Poznan celebration on display, the event was a real treat. It’s great given what’s on the line. Guardiola has said before that he knows his time at City will be judged by some whether he wins the Champions League.
Haaland’s presence means he might as well.
Haaland: I don’t think, I just take it!
Haaland celebrates after scoring the opening goal on Tuesday
“It was a big night,” Haaland said bt sports. “I am very proud to play in the Champions League, I love this competition. Five goals to win 7-0 at home – I am very happy.
“I don’t remember the goal, I just shoot, I don’t think!
“A lot of goals today I didn’t think, I just did. In the penalty, I just wanted to get it in the back of the net, same as the second goal, same as the third goal and every goal.
“A lot of them are quick in their minds and try to put it where the goalkeeper is not. A little is quality but a lot is in the head.”
Asked about Guardiola’s decision to replace him at half-time, he added: “I said, I’d love to score a second hat-trick but what can we do?!”
When is the draw?
The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held at 11:00 WIB on Friday, March 17 in Nyon, Switzerland at the UEFA headquarters.
The eight last 16 winners take part in an open quarter-final and semi-final draw.
There is no seeding and no country protection, so clubs can face opposition from the same country. They can also draw teams that have previously played in the group stage.
A final draw will also be held to determine the ‘home’ side for administrative reasons for the showpiece event in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.
You can follow the signature with Sky Sports’ live blog, so you can keep everything right here.
What’s next?
Manchester City host Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. They resume Premier League action after the international break when they face Liverpool on April 1 at the Etihad Stadium.
RB Leipzig travel to relegation-threatened Bochum back in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
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