Haaland Strikes Again: City Too Strong for Villarreal!
The Norwegian machine keeps scoring, and Pep Guardiola’s men are finally looking like themselves again.
For most teams, facing Manchester City is a nightmare. For Villarreal, it was just another reminder that Erling Haaland doesn’t stop — ever. The Norwegian hitman found the net for the 12th game in a row, setting the tone for a dominant 2-0 City victory that looked effortless from start to finish.
The Machine Never Misses
It took Haaland less than 20 minutes to do what he does best. City, calm and calculated, worked the ball across the pitch, stringing pass after pass as Villarreal sat deeper and deeper. Then, with one sharp burst, Savinho and John Stones sliced through the yellow shirts. Rico Lewis darted into space, cut the ball across the six-yard box, and — of course — Haaland was there to hammer it home.
That strike brought his tally to 24 goals in his last 14 games for club and country. Even by his standards, it’s absurd.
Total Control
If there’s one thing City love more than scoring, it’s control — and Pep Guardiola’s men had plenty of it. With Stones pushing forward and Bernardo Silva roaming freely, they kept 65% possession and never really looked troubled.
Guardiola’s formation constantly shifted, sometimes looking like a 3-2-4-1, sometimes something else entirely. Villarreal simply couldn’t keep up. Even their coach, Marcelino García Toral, admitted: “We were like a boxer waiting to be hit.”
And hit they were again before half-time. From another wave down the right, Savinho floated in a cross. Nine Villarreal defenders stood inside the box — yet somehow, Bernardo Silva was completely free. One touch, one cool finish. 2-0. Game over.
Job Done
The second half saw City ease off, though Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action a few times as Villarreal pushed for a lifeline. Shots from Alberto Moleiro, Pape Gueye, and Nicolas Pépé brought brief excitement, but City’s control never truly wavered.
Haaland came close twice more late on, firing two rockets that forced saves from Luiz Júnior. When Pep finally subbed him off in the 85th minute, the home crowd sighed in relief — he’d already done enough damage.
For City, this was more than three points. It was a statement: the champions are back to their best. As Pep put it, “We feel like ourselves again.” And with Haaland in this form, that’s bad news for everyone else.
