Man City qualified for the Champions League knockout stages with an easy 3-0 victory over Young Boys of Switzerland.
Erling Haaland scored 15 goals in 17 games, including a great second-half goal and a first-half penalty.
Phil Foden scored a great solo goal between his strikes to give us a two-goal advantage at halftime.
If we win and proceed to the knockout stages for the eleventh year, we would become the fourth championship holders to win their first four games the following season.
What happened ?
Manuel Akanji’s injury necessitated a last-minute substitution before the start of Pep Guardiola’s six changes from the team that beat Bournemouth the week before. Kyle Walker became captain, replacing Akanji.
Ulisses Garcia ended his brave fight by cutting in from the right wing, diving inside, and finishing past Racioppi.
After the restart, Haaland slid across the box and beat Racioppi from 20 yards.
City kept Young Boys scoreless despite another difficult night for the visiting custodian. The loud Swiss fans kept Ederson busy in the second half.
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Lauper was sent off soon after Haaland’s second goal, leaving Young Boys down 3-0 and almost eliminated.
Nathan Ake was withdrawn at halftime after being sent off for a first-half tackle on Grealish, and he was late to engage him.
Lewis showed his grit when Young Boys’ Mohamed Ali Camara shoved the City player off the ball and was reprimanded.
After Racioppi rejected Grealish and Jeremy Doku, City tried to extend their lead. Despite Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, and Kalvin Phillips missing, victory seemed assured.
Rico Lewis retreated, but the City manager kept him in the midfield, where his skill and willpower helped them beat RB Leipzig in the second leg.
Lewis, 18, almost put us ahead, but Loris Benito stopped him with the custodian out of position. His first European match was a win over Sevilla at Etihad a year ago.
Anthony Racioppi, Young Boys’ star, intercepted Walker’s free-kick and Foden’s follow-through from close range immediately. He played well in our 3-1 win in Switzerland two weeks earlier.
After a careless challenge by Sandro Lauper, Haaland hauled down Matheus Nunes from 12 yards midway through the first half.
We had 75% possession, and Haaland’s long pass gave City another chance. Our halftime lead was two goals, thanks to Foden.
Teams
Man CITY | YOUNG BOYS |
|---|---|
|  Ederson Walker (Phillips 61)  Stones (Ake 46) Dias (C) Gvardiol Kovacic (Doku 80) Lewis Nunes  Foden Grealish Haaland (Bobb 61). | Racioppi Garcia (Persson 78) Benito Amendo Camara (C) Janko (Blum 66) Lauper Niasse Ugrinic (Males 88) Itten (Chaiwa 66) Elia (Ganvoula 78). |
| Subs | Subs:Â |
| Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Rodrigo, Alvarez, Bernardo. | Von Ballmoos, Marzino, Colley, Lustenberger, Nsame, Monteiro, Rrudhani. |
Man Of The Match
Foden is improving as a city star who has played inside starting this year. The Academy product has done well at Etihad, especially on the left. His three goals in two substitute appearances against Manchester United and Bournemouth showed his impact despite switching teams this season. Guardiola thinks Foden can adjust after his great goal against Young Boys.
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