Man City pick up first win in 2024 Champions League - RTHK
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Man City pick up first win in 2024 Champions League

2024-10-02 HKT 08:19
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  • Man City's Erling Haaland vies for the ball against Slovan Bratislava's Cesar Blackman. Photo: AFP
    Man City's Erling Haaland vies for the ball against Slovan Bratislava's Cesar Blackman. Photo: AFP
Manchester City cruised to their first win in the Uefa Champions League this season with Erling Haaland among the goalscorers in a 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava that did little justice to the visitors' dominance.

Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden struck within the first 15 minutes to set City on their way.

Haaland added his 42nd Champions League goal in 41 appearances before James McAtee registered his first goal in the competition for the club.

After a stuttering start to their European campaign in a 0-0 draw at home to Inter Milan on matchday one, the English champions are up in running in the competition's new format.

Slovan had already suffered a baptism of fire in a 5-1 thrashing at Celtic in their opening match and were given another lesson by the 2023 winners.

Bratislava boss Vladimir Weiss had compared City manager Pep Guardiola's "genius" to that of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudi on the eve of the game.

But Guardiola did not need to be at his creative best to draw up a winning game plan as the gulf between the sides was clear from the opening seconds.

Guardiola could even afford the luxury of making six changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Newcastle on Saturday.

The one thing missing from City's dominant first half display was a Haaland goal.

It duly arrived on 58 minutes as the Norwegian easily raced onto Rico Lewis' pass and rounded the 'keeper before tapping in his 11th goal in eight games this season.

Guardiola was able to give Haaland a rare rest for the closing stages but City still added to their lead.

Foden's inventive through ball was given the finish it deserved from McAtee. (AFP)

Man City pick up first win in 2024 Champions League