Norway star Erling Haaland scored the only goal against Coventry on Saturday and was the match winner once more on Tuesday night (yesterday), nestling a header into the far corner and rolling home another to take his tally to 36 Champions League goals for Manchester City in only 40 appearances.
City have been knocked out by Real Madrid in each of the past three seasons but their return to Lisbon’s Estadio do Dragao – where they lost the 2021 final against Chelsea – was a much more pleasurable experience.
Coach Enzo Maresca’s side have started the Premier League season with three straight victories and they controlled yesterday’s contest, with an impressive showing by teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi’s, the Rodri replacement, on his first start for City.
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa had an inspired first half, twice denying Haaland with superb reflex saves, while also keeping out efforts from Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden.
Francesco Farioli’s side have won all five Portuguese league games so far this season but were left frustrated at home and often showed how tough a task they have in Europe, failing to manage a single shot in the opening 45 minutes.
Though Alan Varela curled narrowly wide after his side fell behind to Haaland’s opener and William Gomes also screwed off target, they ended the contest without being able to call goaliyGianluigi Donnarumma into action.
The result means 2004 champions Porto have won only two of their past 17 games against English teams in European competition, while City will be aiming to lift the trophy for the first time since their Treble-winning campaign in 2023.
Mbappe Inks New Record In Madrid Victory Over Inter
Kylian Mbappe moved joint-fifth in the list of all-time Champions League and European Cup goalscorers as Real Madrid overcame Inter Milan.
The France captain, 27, opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho’s side, yesterday, with a clinical 14th-minute finish from just inside the box – his 71st goal in 99 appearances in the competition.
Only Karim Benzema (90), Robert Lewandowski (109), Lionel Messi (129) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140) have scored more.
Three-time Real Madrid Champions League winner Raul scored 71 times in 142 appearances.
It was Real’s first attempt on target and their next one brought a second goal in the 23rd minute after a horrible mistake by Inter’s Spanish goalkeeper Josep Martinez.
Martinez lost possession after a back pass by Benjamin Pavard, with captain Federico Valverde dispossessing the keeper before tapping over the line.
Martinez made amends at the end of the first half with a double save to keep out Mbappe and Jude Bellingham before the post came to Inter’s rescue.
Italian champions Inter had started well with Thibaut Courtois, making his 100th Champions League appearance, keeping out attempts by Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez.
Inter also hit the top of the bar through former Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, while they sent on John Stones – a Champions League winner with Manchester City in 2023.
In a game full of chances, Bellingham missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 for the record 15-time European champions before Carlos Augusto swept home in the 77th-minute to set up a grandstand finish between Mourinho’s current and former clubs.
Despite the win, Real’s fans were unhappy with their team’s performance and made their feelings known during the game.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Haaland took his tally to five goals for the season for Manchester City.
Champions League – League Phase Results:
*AEK Athens – LASK 1-0
*Club Brugge KV – Aston Villa 2-3
*Dortmund – Villarreal 3-2
*FC Porto – Manchester City 0-2
*Lille – Betis 2-3
*Real Madrid – Inter 2-1
