Manchester City were dominant as they claimed a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, in which the sensational Erling Haaland scored his 45th goal of the season.
Haaland’s late strike means he now holds the record as the Premier League player with the most goals scored in a single season in all competitions.
After Rodri’s opener in the first half and Bernardo Silva’s strike not long before the third, the Norwegian goal machine capped off the game with a goal in the 76th minute.
With City’s win over Bayern-Manchester City, Pep Guardiola’s former club and six-time European champions, they sent a bold message as they strive for a first continental title.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who plotted Chelsea’s 2021 final win over City, this time had no answer as City gradually ground out control and then finished with a flourish.
The sides were well matched in a first half played in whirling rain.
City looked to get off on the right foot, and with Silva lively, they caused some early moments of alarm in the Bayern box, but the visitors soon settled.
Taking the sting out of City’s play by retaining possession, Bayern patiently tried to work openings, and they had the first serious chance when Alphonso Davies dragged a shot well wide.
City kept Bayern’s box heated in the opening minutes, with the first opportunity coming after goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s skirmish, which was not well utilized by the dangerous skipper Haaland. Another notable one came when Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish combined to tee up Haaland, but the striker’s effort was tame.
City’s 27th-minute opener came in spectacular fashion moments after Ruben Dias produced a fine block to deny Jamal Musiala at the other end. Rodri curled in a beauty with his left foot from outside the area.
For all City’s strength in attack, they needed to defend well to repel Bayern.
City had a scare when Kevin De Bruyne went down and required lengthy treatment after slipping. He tried to continue and looked frustrated when he was substituted soon after, but Guardiola clearly decided it was not worth risking one of his key performers any longer.
That choice was soon vindicated as City doubled their lead through Silva after Grealish released Haaland with a clever backheel. The striker burst forward and crossed for Silva to power home a header at the far post, and as usual, Haaland then did what he does best to put City in complete control of the tie.
In spite of not getting a fourth, City will head to Germany confident of securing a semi-final spot.
