Haaland spoils De Bruyne's return with brilliant display

It started out as a nostalgic night for Manchester City but they could afford to celebrate their past. They were not harmed by it as their present and future dominated instead.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the Etihad Stadium was an anticlimactic affair, cruelly curtailed. When Erling Haaland enveloped his old sidekick in a hug during his lap of honour, perhaps it was accompanied by an apology. Haaland was indirectly responsible for De Bruyne’s departure, his pace and power meaning the midfielder was sacrificed. While Napoli had signed City’s greatest ever player, they could trace their defeat to the man Pep Guardiola believes could become the Champions League’s record scorer.

And records tend to follow Haaland. His eighth goal in five games - including five for Norway - earned him a slice of Champions League history. He became the fastest player to 50 goals in the competition, taking just 49 games. “What can I say? The numbers speak for themselves,” said Guardiola.

"Just to congratulate him, because he's alongside goalscorers like [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, [Robert] Lewandowski, but especially the two monsters Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi. For Erling to be there is unbelievable.” Indeed, Van Nistelrooy lost his record, Haaland reaching a half-century in 13 fewer appearances. Four days after a Manchester derby, City beat an earlier generation of United player.

Nor, indeed, could more recent exiles from United damage them. This was not a night for Rasmus Hojlund or Scott McTominay, just as the Belgian to score was Jeremy Doku, not De Bruyne.