Sevilla 0, Manchester City 4 (Champions League)
Erling Haaland scored a brace while Phil Foden and Ruben Dias also scored as Manchester City cruised to a Champions League victory at Sevilla.
Embed from Getty ImagesHaaland became the quickest player to reach 25 Champions League goals – hitting 25 in just 20 games as the records continued to crumble as he scored his 11th and 12th goals for City who already have 25 goals themselves this term.
City also had an Ilkay Gundogan goal chalked off for offside in their comfortable group romp in Spain.
City were without the injured John Stones and Kyle Walker – neither travelled to Spain – but that left room in the side for new signings Manuel Akanji and Sergio Gomez to make their full debuts for the club as City made three changes from the side that drew against Aston Villa last weekend.
Jack Grealish, who had missed four games with injury, was also fit enough to start with Gundogan stepping down to the bench.
Haaland broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when he sniffed danger as Phil Foden slipped in De Bruyne for a well timed low cross into the area which the big Norwegian got on the end of after evading both of his markers as he dashed into he six yard box to meet it.
Sevilla created little of note, with Papu Gomez firing high and wide on a rare chance and their manager Julian Lopetegui made attacking changes at the break, bringing on Rafa Mir and Joan Jordan for Thomas Delaney and Ivan Rakitic.
Haaland and De Bruyne combined early in the second half to leave the Belgian one on one with Bono in the second half but the Sevilla goalkeeper made the save to keep the score close.
United full back Alex Telles, who had been playing in an advanced role in the first half, was withdrawn after 57 minutes as Sevilla risked another forward in an effort to get an equaliser.
But Foden doubled the lead after Sevilla gave the ball away and Joao Cancelo gave the England man the ball from the right and he turned Nemanja Gudelj inside out before firing home from just inside the box.
Haaland missed out on a second goal when he fired wide from a Gomez cross before Ilkay Gundogan replaced Jack Grealish after 62 minutes.
Gundogan had the ball in the back of the net after a knockdown from Foden but the goal was ruled out after Foden was clearly offside while meeting the deep ball crossed into the box.
But City had their third goal soon afterwards when he tapped in the rebound from 7 yards after Bono could only parry Foden’s shot.
It was the 12th goal of the season for the big Norwegian after just 7 games and Bono will be sick of the sight of the Norwegian who has scored six of his 25 Champions League goals against Sevilla with him in goal.
City boss Pep Guardiola made a double change – sending on Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez for Foden and Haaland after 71 minutes.
And Bono saved from Joao Cancelo’s long range effort before Kalvin Phillips came on for his Champions League debut alongside Riyad Mahrez as Rodri and De Bruyne got a rest with 12 minutes to go.
Another ex-United player – Adnan Januzaj – came on as a substitute with the game virtually up – for Isco.
Sevilla Substitute Suso had their first shot on target after 82 minutes after City took their foot off the gas for the final phase of the game before delivering a deserved hammer blow in added time as the home fans started to revolt against their poor start to the season.
Palmer had an injury time shot saved by Bono while Alvarez had a shot cleared off the line before Ruben Dias made it 4-0 with a tap in from six yards for his first ever Champions League goal after Cancelo crossed from the right.