Haaland’s Life Would Be ‘Boring’ Had He Set Record, Says Guardiola

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the team's fifth goal, his fourth, during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the team's fifth goal, his fourth, during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
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Haaland’s Life Would Be ‘Boring’ Had He Set Record, Says Guardiola

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the team's fifth goal, his fourth, during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the team's fifth goal, his fourth, during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 14, 2023. (AFP)

Erling Haaland virtually wrote his own record book for Manchester City against RB Leipzig on a thrilling night at the Etihad Stadium, but manager Pep Guardiola spoiled what might have been one more.

Haaland scored five goals as City steamrolled their German opponents into submission in a 7-0 rout to put them into the Champions League quarter-finals for the sixth consecutive season before Guardiola substituted him in the 63rd minute.

No player in Champions League history has scored six goals in a game.

"If he achieved this milestone, the record, at 22, will be boring, his life, so now he'll have a target to do it in the future, here and everywhere," Guardiola said. "So that's why I make a substitution."

Haaland became the third player in history to score five goals in a game, matching Luiz Adriano, who achieved the feat in 2014 for Shakhtar Donetsk, and Lionel Messi, in 2012 for Barcelona -- with Guardiola as coach.

"I didn't know with Messi when it was happening against Leverkusen, they told me in the first interview," Guardiola said.

"But I made a substitution (Tuesday) because normally when the game is over, I want to... let them play, as many players as possible.

"Haaland equalled Messi's record, but he did it in 60 minutes, it's different. Who knows if he would have played 90 minutes?"

Haaland was a six-foot-four-inch bulldozer in front of the net all night, narrowly missing several other excellent chances in a victory that secured an 8-1 win on aggregate.

"I told (Guardiola) I would love to score a double hat-trick but what can I do?" said Haaland, who was hauled off minutes after his fifth goal.

Leipzig manager Marco Rose said he knew his team might be in for a stiff challenge against Haaland.

"He had a great night. He was so hungry," Rose said. "He scored goals with the foot and head, won second balls, deep runs. It looked really simple.

"He took the ball from the referee, that tells you it was a special night for him. Congratulations to Erling."

Haaland has 10 goals in the Champions League this season, and 33 in his career, reaching the 30-goal mark in 25 games, the fewest ever. He is also the youngest ever to reach that mark.

Guardiola has won nine major trophies at Manchester City but European success has eluded the Spaniard at the club. The closest they came to winning the Champions League was a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final.

How much would it mean to finally lift the trophy this season?

"I have three idols in life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts," Guardiola told puzzled reporters.

"Julia Roberts came to England a few years ago in the period when Man United were not good, we were better, and she came to Man United, she didn't come to see us. Even if I win, it cannot make up for Julia Roberts not coming to see us."



Lando Norris Seeks to Keep His Winning F1 Run Going at the Belgian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
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Lando Norris Seeks to Keep His Winning F1 Run Going at the Belgian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz

McLaren's Lando Norris starts on pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix as he seeks to keep his winning run going and boost his Formula 1 title chances against teammate Oscar Piastri.

Norris is aiming to win three Grand Prix races in a row for the first time in his F1 career and follow up on an emotional home victory at the British Grand Prix earlier this month, The Associated Press said.

The risk of rain in the Belgian forests means it could be the second wet race in a row after Norris' win in Britain.

Piastri qualified second on the grid Saturday by less than a tenth of a second from Norris, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc third and defending champion Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull.

Piastri's leads Norris in the standings by nine points following Saturday's sprint race in Belgium. Verstappen held off both McLarens to take the sprint win, with Piastri second and Norris third.