Erling Haaland scored twice as holders Manchester City cruised into the last-16 of the Champions League with two group games remaining after a 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100 per cent record and lead Group G with 12 points from four games. Young Boys, who were reduced to 10 men when Sandro Lauper was shown a red card in the 53rd minute, are fourth in the group with one point.
“Still the job is not done because we have to finish first because it’s better in the last-16 to have the weapon of the second game at home,” Guardiola said.
“But the first step to qualify is done, (and) we scored two fantastic goals.”
Haaland now has 39 Champions League goals from 34 appearances, and is on course to smash the record for fewest appearances to reach 40 goals, which is 45 games by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The 23-year-old injured his ankle in Saturday’s 6-1 trouncing of Bournemouth in the Premier League, raising questions about whether he would even play on Tuesday.
The one negative on the night was the loss of John Stones, who recently returned from a hip injury but was replaced at half-time after suffering what Guardiola said was a muscle issue.
City applied pressure from kick-off and Haaland broke the deadlock from a penalty in the 23rd minute after Lauper’s tackle on Matheus Nunes in the box. Phil Foden doubled City’s lead seconds before half-time.
Giroud strikes
AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud’s powerful header early in the second half secured a 2-1 Group F home victory over Paris St Germain in a pulsating match for the first win in this season’s competition by the Italian side.
Former Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar had put PSG ahead but their advantage lasted only three minutes before Rafael Leao netted an acrobatic equaliser and Giroud then sealed a precious victory just after the break in front of 75,649 at the San Siro.
Milan now have five points from four games in third behind second-placed PSG with six points. Leaders Borussia Dortmund have seven points after winning 2-0 earlier at home to Newcastle United who are bottom on four points.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata both struck twice to help thrash 10-man Celtic 6-0, sending the Spaniards top in Group E. Atletico made a strong start and Griezmann opened the scoring in the sixth minute, slotting in a low shot from the edge of the box.
