Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester City, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Manchester City, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Erling Haaland could break a remarkable record held by Cristiano Ronaldo if he scores for Manchester City in their Champions League opener this week.
Haaland continued his fine form at the weekend, scoring twice in City's 2-1 victory over Brentford which extends Pep Guardiola's perfect start to the season.
The Norwegian failed to become the first Premier League player to score three consecutive hat-tricks but he did manage to break another record as he became the first man to reach nine goals in the first four league matches of the season.
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Haaland was initially a doubt for the match after being granted compassionate leave by the club following the death of a close family friend.
Speaking after the match, City boss Guardiola told BBC Sport: "It was a tough week for him, but yesterday was a bit better and we tried to help him.
"Sometimes that's the best way [to deal with it], to forget things and do what you do you best, do your job, and he did that again.
City team-mate Jack Grealish, meanwhile, told the club's official website: "I can't speak highly enough of him.
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"We all know that he's had a difficult week, him and his family. I send all my love to them.
"It does speak volumes about him as a person and his mental strength. To come out there today and perform like that and score two goals for us to get the win, I'm sure that it's everything his family would have wanted," he added.
It seems every game offers a new record-breaking opportunity for the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, and Wednesday's clash with Inter Milan is no different.
Haaland currently sits on 99 goals for Manchester City in just 103 games, meaning he has one chance to beat Cristiano Ronaldo who reached the triple-figure mark after just 105 appearances for Real Madrid.
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If Haaland does fail to score in his next match, he will have the opportunity to equal the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's record of 105, but based on recent form Ronaldo might be sweating over in Saudi Arabia.
While the City forward will have a hard task equalling Ronaldo's overall goal record for Madrid of 450 goals in 438 games, the fact Haaland is so close to breaking a goalscoring record held by the great man puts any doubts over his credentials to bed.