Manchester City forward Erling Haaland continues to score goals at an unprecedented rate.
The Norwegian’s strike to spark the comeback in our 3-2 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday was his 40th in the Champions League. It has taken him just 35 matches to reach that figure. Incredibly, that’s 10 quicker than previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy who required 45 appearances to hit the figure.
Kylian Mbappe is third fastest, taking 59 matches while two of the finest goalscorers of the modern era – Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski – needed 61 games each. This was the 12th time Haaland has scored against RB Leipzig, at least five more than he has scored against any other opponent he has ever faced.
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17 of the No.9’s Champions League strikes have come for City after 15 in the yellow and black of Borussia Dortmund and eight for Red Bull Salzburg. It comes just a few days after Haaland obliterated the record for 50 Premier League goals – taking 17 matches fewer than the previous best.
His latest strike helped overturn a two-goal deficit after a Lois Openda brace gave our visitors the half-time advantage. It was the first time City have come back from two goals down in the Champions League, having lost all six previous such matches in the competition.
Haaland’s goal, followed by sweet finishes from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez, means City top Group G with a game to spare after reaching the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th successive season last time out.