Erling Haaland toppled another major European record on Thursday night, as the milestone for Haaland 50 Champions League goals was reached in record time during Manchester City’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Napoli.
Early red card changes the game
The pre-match narrative was dominated by Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the Etihad, but the game’s pivotal moment came after just 20 minutes. Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Haaland following a VAR review. The decision forced Napoli manager Antonio Conte into a tactical reshuffle, sacrificing De Bruyne’s emotional return for a defensive substitute. City dominated the remainder of the first half but were repeatedly denied by a string of saves from Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić.
Haaland makes history
The hosts’ pressure finally paid off just before the hour mark when Phil Foden delivered an exquisite pass for Haaland to loop a header into the net. The goal was historic, marking the Norwegian’s 50th in the Champions League. He achieved the half-century in an astonishing 49 matches, shattering the previous record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took 62 games. Haaland is now level with Thierry Henry on the all-time scorers list.
Doku seals the win
City wasted little time in securing the result. Jérémy Doku, who starred in the weekend’s Manchester derby, produced a sublime solo effort to double the lead, skipping past several defenders before rolling the ball home. While the red card undoubtedly made City’s task easier, the night belonged to Haaland. His relentless pursuit of goals continues to rewrite the history books, sending a clear warning to the rest of Europe.