Haaland double helps Manchester City start Champions League campaign with win over Porto

Manchester City began their Champions League campaign with a convincing victory over Porto, as Erling Haaland scored twice at Estadio do Dragao in Lisbon.

The Norway striker continued his prolific opening to the season by heading City in front, directing the ball beyond Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa and into the far corner.

Haaland then struck again later in the match, keeping his composure to roll the ball into the net and complete a performance that once more underlined his importance to the English champions.

The two goals took Haaland’s Champions League tally for Manchester City to 36 in 40 appearances. He had also scored in last Saturday’s meeting with Coventry, netting the only goal of that game.

City dictated the contest for extended spells and might have won by a wider margin had it not been for Costa. The Porto goalkeeper made two outstanding reflex saves to deny Haaland, while he also kept out efforts from Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden.

Ayyoub Bouaddi made an impressive first start for Manchester City as Enzo Maresca’s side opened their latest European campaign in confident fashion. City are seeking another Champions League triumph after winning the competition as part of their Treble-winning 2023 season.

Porto, European champions in 2004, were unable to reproduce the form that has seen them win all five of their domestic fixtures this season.

They did not register a shot during the opening half. Alan Varela and William Gomes later failed to hit the target, while Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was not required to make a save.

City manager Enzo Maresca said his team had created enough opportunities to win comfortably, while acknowledging that playing at Porto’s stadium would inevitably bring pressure.

“We could have scored more goals, especially in the first half. But overall we deserved to win the game. We created enough chances to win the game, we didn’t concede a lot,” City boss Enzo Maresca told Amazon.

Maresca added that City had expected Porto to produce moments of danger and said he was satisfied with the overall display.

“It’s normal to come here and concede some noises so overall I’m happy with the performance.

“If you think you’re going to come here in this stadium and just play and not concede anything, it’s not reality. It’s normal that they are going to create something. They didn’t create a lot – some actions, some mistakes from us. But I think it’s normal.”

The result gives Manchester City a strong start to their attempt to reclaim European football’s biggest club prize, while Porto must look for a response in their next Champions League fixture.