Erling Haaland scored five goals as Manchester City advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Manchester City 7-0 RB Leipzig (8-1 on aggregate)
Date: 14 March 2023
Venue: Etihad
Man City made only one change to the side that edged Crystal Palace, as Kevin De Bruyne was recalled at the expense of Phil Foden, with Riyad Mahrez starting from the bench.
Leipzig, meanwhile, were without Christopher Nkunku due to a thigh injury as Timo Werner, Emil Forsberg and Dominik Szoboszla continued to lead the attack, as was the case in a 1-1 draw in the first-leg in Germany.
Pep Guardiola's charges were on the front foot from the off and after missing a couple of good chances, they eventually went ahead on 22 minutes thanks to a penalty by Haaland after a handball in the box.
City were relentless with their high press and Haaland quickly doubled their lead with a downward header from a rebound after De Bruyne's sensational shot came off the crossbar.
The Citizens' determination in the final third saw Haaland increase the lead before the break after he bundled the ball over the line to complete his first-half strike.
City had a perfect start in the second stanza as Iikay Gundogan extended the advantage four minutes after the interval with a strike from the edge of the box.
The hosts were already running riot as Haaland got his fourth goal and City's sixth on the night eight minute into the second stanza with a close-range finish from a rebound in the box.
Things were falling for the Citizens and Haaland, who secured his fifth goal on the night with another close-range finish, joining Lionel Messi as the only other player to score five goals in a Champions League knockout.
There was enough time for the home side to added a seventh goal on the night but it wasn't Haaland, as De Bruyne found the back of the net with a precise half-volley from the edge of the box, as Pep Guardiola's side march on to the last eight.
The Norwegian has now also scored 39 goals across all competitions for the Citizens, which is the most in a single season at the club, breaking Tommy Johnson's record of 38 from 1929.
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