Haaland’s impact crushes Saints 1:4 in the Premier League away game.
Armel Bella-Kotchap, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Carlos Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana all return to the Saints’ starting line-up.
The only other change in the starting line-up is that of Erling Haaland in place of Julian Alvarez.
The visitors are in undivided possession since the start of the match, but their few strikes pose little danger to Southampton.
Southampton defend compactly and in large numbers, a couple of times still trying to straighten the compressed spring. Sulemana’s breakthrough in the 16th minute is particularly good, but Kamaldeen stops, then runs again, ultimately failing to shoot on goal.
Despite a lack of clear chances, open the scoring in the 45th minute. Kevin de Bruyne crosses from the left wing into the net where Haaland heads the ball home to make it 0-1.
In the second half, City try to put their injured opponents to bed. Ilkay Gündogan’s shot on target is slightly missed, but Haaland’s is successful. Erling hit the target at the second attempt after the goalkeeper stopped his first shot to make it 0-2.
That’s pretty much the end of the game. The visitors are no longer resisting, which results in the third goal. On 68 minutes, Jack Grealish dribbles down the left flank and gently slottes the ball over to Haaland, who stabbes over the edge of the penalty box to make it 0-3.
It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, but Southampton get one goal back in the 72nd minute. Moussa Djenepo bursts into the box from the left flank, beats four opponents to make a pass to the 11-metre area where Sékou Mara puts his shot on touch for 1:3.
The reaction to the conceded goal from the Cityzens is immediate. De Bruyne is fouled inside the penalty box and Julian Alvarez, who is replaced Haaland by then, converts the spot-kick — 1:4. At this point, the teams finally settle down.
Haaland proves that the groin injury he has suffered has not compromised his form. Ehrling warms up well before the Champions League clash with Bayern and helps City get the three points on the scoresheet.
Southampton manager Ruben Selles on Pep Guardiola: “He’s been one of the best managers in the last 10 years, changed the football approach with Barcelona, and he’s a coach everybody has been studying and everybody in one way or another has tried to copy…
Part of the game is to lure you one side and try to switch play, short or long, to a one-vs-one. That was sometimes Lionel Messi or [Thierry] Henry. Now he has Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish…”