Erling Haaland ended a five-game goal drought in Champions League play with a second-half brace. At the same time, Manuel Akanji scored on his return to his homeland as reigning champions Manchester City all but secured their spot in the knockout stage with a 3-1 win over Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday. The Norway striker made amends for missing a penalty in the previous round against Atletico Madrid as he struck twice, first from the spot and then with a rasping right-footed shot, to help City maintain their 100% winning record in Group G with three victories.
Pep Guardiola’s side were given a scare in Bern, but their victory leaves them two points at the group’s top. Kylian Mbappe scored as Paris Saint-Germain beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 to lead the way in the other Group G contest.
Young Boys took the lead after just four minutes when winger Meschack Elia lashed a left-footed effort past Ederson. But City responded quickly, and Haaland tapped in his first goal in the competition from close range after cleaning up a bouncing ball inside the box.
The goal lifted City to the top of the table and was their ninth in eight Champions League games. But the game’s defining moment came in the 67th minute when Mohamed Camara clumsily felled Rodri inside the penalty area. Haaland confidently sent the goalkeeper diving one way before slotting the ball into the opposite corner. City pressed for more, and Grealish had a close-range header deflected wide before Julian Alvarez saw his slick effort ruled out for offside.
City were slicker after the break, and Jeremy Doku had two strikes saved by Racioppi, while Jack Grealish fired over from close range. But they got their third with 16 minutes remaining when Haaland slid in to meet Rodri’s low cross for his second. Young Boys keeper Racioppi then kept out a rasping header from defender Sandro Lauper before Akanji bundled home a loose ball from the rebound.
Akanji, who has been starting for City since returning from a groin injury, recorded three shots (one on target) and two crosses (zero accurate) in the attack while contributing with three tackles and one block in defense. The defender hopes to retain his place in the starting lineup when the squad returns to training ahead of Sun
