Preview of Monaco vs Man City (02:00, 2/10): When the scoring machine Haaland shows no signs of fatigue

01/10/2025 08:25:00 VictoryVox

Erling Haaland is turning the act of scoring into a natural habit, scoring for Man City every 65 minutes across all competitions this season.

AS Monaco might be the next victim of Haaland, the player who holds the record for the fastest 50 goals in Champions League history. Still, behind this image, there are issues that make Pep Guardiola think deeply.

Haaland's natural state

In Manchester, no one is surprised when Erling Haaland scores again. If there is any surprise, it lies in the speed, the cold repetition, and how he creates an irresistible feeling of someone who has made scoring against opponents a daily routine. His last 7 consecutive matches for Man City (5) and Norway (2) all end the same way: Haaland shows up, Haaland scores, Haaland shifts the pace of the game.

His explosive form has brought him to a remarkable milestone: 8 goals after just a few Premier League rounds. This number is twice that of his closest competitors – Semenyo, Jaidon Anthony, or Igor Thiago. Haaland exists in a different universe. He is like a separate planet orbiting its own axis, forcing the whole league to adjust accordingly. The Premier League, proud as one of the toughest leagues, is witnessing a striker turning every defense into a mere illustration of his superiority.

An interesting aspect is that Haaland is not alone on this journey. On the left wing, Jeremy Doku has become the ideal partner. With his sprints, dribbling, and ability to break defenses apart, Doku acts as the opener, letting Haaland step into his familiar promised land. While last season Man City was sometimes seen as too dependent on the Norwegian striker, this season, Doku’s presence balances the equation: Haaland remains the center, but no longer the only destination.

This form is both a joy and a warning for Pep Guardiola. Joy because the scoring machine runs as if unaware of any crisis. Warning because football history rarely tolerates absolute consistency. Those who start the season like a dream usually face harsh challenges in the middle and end stages. The more Haaland scores, the more attention he attracts, and the more he becomes the target of league-wide analysis.

Man City has conquered nearly every peak and is entering the realm of satiated empires: difficult to maintain motivation, hard to keep mental sharpness. Here, Haaland becomes a mirror. His cold demeanor and tireless engine are exactly what City needs to avoid slipping into complacency. In a squad already filled with glory, he reminds that football only exists in the present: yesterday’s goals are history, today must start anew.

Erling Haaland is maintaining a very high scoring efficiency

The need for consistency

Haaland’s story touches another level: the tension between individual and team. He scores for Norway, a team rarely seen on the big stage. There, Haaland is a symbol of hope. At Man City, he is just one cog in Pep’s complex machine, but the cog that, if removed, would destabilize the whole system. Therefore, Haaland lives in two realities: one carrying the hopes of a nation, the other sustaining the greatness of an empire.

Statistical dominance may seem dry, but behind it lies a human story. Seven consecutive games with goals prove his consistency but also measure the resistance Haaland will face. As Premier League and Champions League defenders grow accustomed to his diagonal runs and one-touch finishes, Haaland will need to add more skills. This is where Doku and the rest of City become crucial.

On a broader scale, Haaland continues to rewrite Champions League history. Scoring 50 goals in just 49 matches, he is the fastest player to reach this milestone. The previous record holder, Ruud van Nistelrooy, took much longer at 62 matches. Guardiola knows he cannot rely on a single striker to keep the throne. But Pep also knows that with Haaland, he has something unique: a machine that makes scoring feel natural.

The challenge is how to keep this naturalness from becoming a burden or a habit the team depends on too much. Additionally, Pep hopes Rodri will soon regain his fitness and best form, which also makes Guardiola consider possibly signing a new midfielder in January. Rodri’s comeback — who missed the Burnley match and is expected to start against Monaco — will be key for Haaland to maintain his high performance, helping Man City stay stable on their winning trajectory.

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