Erling Haaland turned in another record-breaking performance by scoring five goals in Manchester City’s decisive Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.
Haaland scored a hat-trick in the first half before adding two more after the break in City’s 7-0 win over the German club, completing an 8-1 aggregate victory over two legs in their last-16 contest.
Kevin De Bruyne and lkay Gündoan scored the other two goals as City easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Yet Haaland’s apparent insatiable drive to put the ball in the back of the net was the main focus of the evening.
The 22-year-old surpassed numerous records over the course of the game; notably becoming City’s highest goalscorer in a single season as broke Tommy Johnson’s record of 38 goals set in 1928/29.
The Norwegian international now has 39 goals in 36 games – and it’s only March.
Haaland also became the fastest and youngest player to reach 30 goals in the Champions League, as well as the youngest player to score five times in a single Champions League game.
Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano are the only other players to have scored five goals in a Champions League match.
Gimme five! ✋😅🔵 #mancity #UCL pic.twitter.com/REPP5m8lkp
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) March 14, 2023
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“My super strength is scoring goals,” Haaland told BT Sport. “A lot of it is being quick in the mind and trying to put it where the goalkeeper is not.
“I was so tired after my celebrations,” he then quipped.
City manager Pep Guardiola lavished praised on the prolific Haaland.
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“Five goals, what can I say?” Guardiola said. “I said many times, he’s a joyful guy. His mood in the locker room is always happiness.
“He is a gift to all of us, he is a huge competitor, his mentality is there. He scored five goals which is not easy.”
Haaland received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Etihad Stadium after he was replaced by Pep in the 63rd minute of the match.
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