Erling Haaland hits double to seal Man City's Champions

Erling Haaland scored both goals to give Manchester City a 2-0 win away at FC Porto in their Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday 8 September 2026. The Norwegian striker's second-half double secured a winning start for new manager Enzo Maresca in Europe's top club competition, though the performance left room for improvement.

How did Haaland's goals shape the match?

Haaland was surprisingly wasteful in a first half where Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa made several sharp saves. He made amends almost immediately after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, he powered past defender Jakub Kiwior to head an Enzo Fernandez cross in off the post. The striker then sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, guiding a pass from Rayan Aït-Nouri into the net with his right foot. The goals were his fourth and fifth of the season across all competitions.

What records did the striker break?

The brace against Porto was historically significant for Haaland. He scored his 36th Champions League goal for Manchester City, drawing him level with the legendary Sergio Agüero as the club's joint-top scorer in the competition. Across his entire Champions League career with Salzburg, Dortmund and City, he now has 59 goals in 59 matches. That moves him into seventh place on the competition's all-time scoring list, surpassing Thomas Müller. For City his 167 goals place him third on the club's all-time list.

What did Haaland and his teammates say after the game?

Haaland praised new signing Ayyoub Bouaddi, calling the youngster a "gem" for his performances in training. He joked he was "a bit angry" with Bouaddi for not playing him through on goal during the match. New midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who provided the assist for the opener on his Champions League debut for City, was effusive in his praise. "Erling Haaland is an animal, a beast," Fernandez told Amazon Prime. "Every time I'm on the pitch, I'm going to look for him." Haaland also outlined the demands of the new era under Maresca, stating the manager and players must demand a lot from each other as they learn his methods.

Does City's reliance on Haaland pose a risk?

The victory in Portugal reinforced a growing narrative around Manchester City. While Haaland delivered the decisive moments, the team's overall display was unconvincing. Porto grew into the game after City's opener and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had a nervy moment nearly losing possession. Analysis suggests City's strength is also a potential vulnerability. The squad lacks a reliable alternative at centre-forward, meaning any dip in form or fitness for Haaland could leave a hole Maresca struggles to fill. His goals are currently the single biggest factor keeping City on track in both the Premier League and Champions League.

• Haaland's two goals secured a 2-0 away win for Manchester City against Porto on 8 September 2026.
• He equaled Sergio Agüero's club record of 36 Champions League goals for City.
• New signing Enzo Fernandez hailed Haaland as a "beast" after assisting his first goal.
• The performance highlighted City's heavy dependence on their star striker's scoring output.

Manchester City now turn their focus back to the Premier League, where they have won their first three matches.