With an outstanding performance, Erling Haaland led Manchester City to the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup. In the 6:2 (3:1) win at Luton Town, the Norwegian scored the first five goals for the Champions League winners – Kevin De Bruyne provided the preparatory work four times. Mateo Kovacic (72nd) ensured the final point, but the injury-related substitution of Jack Grealish (38th) dampened the mood. There are fears of a recurrence of a groin injury that Grealish recently suffered.
For Haaland, it was the second game in his time with the Skyblues in which he scored five goals: He also achieved this in the Champions League in a 7-0 win against RB Leipzig in March 2023. On Tuesday in Luton he struck five times in 58 minutes (3rd, 18th, 40th, 55th, 58th). “I’m getting back to my best. “I finally feel good, it’s an incredible feeling,” said the Norwegian after the game on ITV: “There are exciting times ahead of us. We are ready to attack.”
Guardiola: “Their connection was perfect”
Luton had temporarily reduced the score to 2:3 through Jordan Clark (45′, 52′), but Haaland delivered the big show. Team manager Pep Guardiola took the striker off the field in the 77th minute. The goal record for an FA Cup game was still a long way away anyway. This is held by the now 77-year-old Scotsman Ted MacDougall, who scored a sensational nine goals in AFC Bournemouth’s 11-0 win against Margate FC on November 20, 1971. German coach Jürgen Klopp will play with Liverpool FC against Southampton FC this Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN).
“What can I say? It was really, really good,” said City coach Guardiola after the game. “Erling (Haaland, editor) is unstoppable and Kevin (De Bruyne, editor)…their connection was perfect. It was a really good game.” Haaland “didn’t play for two months, couldn’t run, couldn’t do anything. When you’ve lost two months, it’s not easy to come back,” said the Spaniard and praised: “He’s getting better every game. We are happy that he is coming back step by step.”
Striker Haaland was out until the beginning of the month with a foot injury and is fighting his way back. His five goals against outsiders Luton also caused enthusiasm outside his club. “He is productive, makes great runs, is a natural goalscorer and has a great attitude. He’s a machine,” praised TV expert Roy Keane. The former Manchester United captain added: “That was world class from Haaland.”
In the English Premier League, City is second after 26 match days, just one point behind leader Liverpool under coach Klopp. In the round of 16 of the Champions League, Manchester is about to move into the next round after a 3-1 win in the first leg at FC Copenhagen.
Mallorca in the Copa del Rey Finale
Meanwhile, in the Spanish cup competition, Real Mallorca outplayed the favorites Real Sociedad and thus reached the final of the Copa del Rey. In the semi-final second leg, the team from the Balearic Island won 5-4 on penalties. After extra time the score was 1:1 (0:0, 1:1). Mallorca is now aiming for its second Spanish Cup title, the club having triumphed for the only time so far in 2003.
Giovanni Gonzalez (50th) gave Mallorca the lead, Mikel Oyarzabal (71st) saved the Champions League round of 16 from San Sebastian in extra time. In the penalty shootout, Mallorca’s Dominik Greif parried Oyarzabal’s first attempt, but the visiting scorers all converted confidently. There were no goals scored in the first leg.
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Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao will determine the second finalist on Thursday (9:30 p.m./DAZN). The Basques won the first leg 1-0.
