Haaland breaks Champions League record as 10-man Napoli are no match for City | OneFootball

Manchester City were expected to find Napoli awkward opposition, but the reality was very different. What looked like a heavyweight contest quickly became a reminder of just how far ahead Pep Guardiola’s side remain when the margins swing their way.

Erling Haaland’s numbers speak for themselves. Fifty Champions League goals in 49 appearances is astonishing, a record that obliterates Ruud van Nistelrooy’s old benchmark and underlines why City rarely panic when matches are tight.

For long stretches Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic stood tall, denying Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Rodri with saves that had the Etihad murmuring in disbelief. Yet the outcome never truly felt in doubt with Haaland lurking.

The turning point came when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off for hauling Haaland down midway through the first half. That moment effectively ended Napoli’s hope of competing as equals.

Antonio Conte’s plan to frustrate City collapsed, and Kevin De Bruyne’s enforced substitution after only 26 minutes added a layer of irony. The Belgian, once adored here, trudged off as the crowd serenaded him, and Napoli were left exposed without their captain.

From then on it became a siege. Guardiola’s players pushed Napoli back, circulating the ball with patience before unleashing waves of attacks. Milinkovic-Savic kept the scoreline respectable, but it felt like he was plugging leaks in a sinking ship.

When Foden finally clipped the perfect pass into Haaland’s stride, the finish was inevitable. The roar inside the stadium carried a sense of relief more than surprise.

Jeremy Doku’s dazzling second goal confirmed what had been obvious for some time: City were in cruise control. His twisting run and finish recalled Ricky Villa’s famous Wembley strike, a reminder that this squad’s talent pool runs deeper than just its prolific No 9.

For Napoli, the return of familiar faces offered no comfort. Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, back in Manchester in different colours, could do little as passengers in a side reduced to survival mode.

Conte’s pre-match talk of pupils versus tutors felt painfully accurate once the red card tilted the balance.

City’s dominance was not just about goals but control. Gianluigi Donnarumma barely had to make a save, while Rodri dictated with calm assurance. A 2-0 score flattered Napoli, given the one-way traffic and the 16-1 shot count in the first half alone.

If this was supposed to test City’s credentials, it instead reinforced the sense that Guardiola’s team remain untouchable when given even the slightest advantage. Napoli were brushed aside, and Haaland once again looked like a man chasing records that only he can reach.