Erling Haaland netted two goals as Manchester City kicked off their Champions League journey with an easy win over Porto.
Norway’s star Haaland netted the only goal against Coventry on Saturday, securing another victory by guiding a header into the far corner and adding another to reach 36 Champions League goals for City in just 40 matches.
The city has been eliminated by Real Madrid in the last three seasons, but their return to Lisbon’s Estadio do Dragao—the site of their 2021 final loss to Chelsea—was a far more enjoyable occasion.
Enzo Maresca’s team has kicked off the Premier League season with three consecutive wins, and they dominated this match, highlighted by a remarkable performance from teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi in his first start for City.
Porto’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa delivered a brilliant first half, making two exceptional reflex saves to thwart Haaland and also stopping shots from Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden.
Francesco Farioli’s team has triumphed in all five league matches this season but experienced frustration at home and frequently demonstrated the difficulty they face in Europe, not managing a single shot in the first half.
Despite Alan Varela shooting just wide after his team went down to Haaland’s first goal and William Gomes also missing the target, they concluded the match without forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to make a save.
The outcome indicates that 2004 champions Porto have achieved victory in only two of their last 17 matches against English clubs in European tournaments, whereas City will be looking to claim the trophy for the first time since their Treble-winning season in 2023.
