Haaland faces toughest test
Manchester City’s date with destiny tomorrow night will see much of the focus on Erling Haaland as the Premier League front runners look to reach the final of the Champions League at the expense of holders Real Madrid.
The record-breaking scoring form of the Norwegian has set the season alight but in last week’s first leg of their Champions League semi-final he had a tough night and failed to find the net at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland has scored 52 goals in all competitions in the campaign but was kept quiet by Real defender Antonio Rudiger in the 1-1 draw last Tuesday.
But Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says amid all the adulation and admiration for the Viking, pundits forget he is but 22 years old and had never previously competed in anything like the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Haaland will again be at the fulcrum of the home attack, with a few tweaks promised by Guardiola to make it easier for him to find space, get away from his markers and be in better scoring positions.
There will be pressure, however, to deliver and how he handles it will be an interesting discovery. It will tell us much about Haaland’s ability to go on and become one of world football’s greats.