Haaland Back in the Groove with Double as Man City Win at Burnley

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) speaks with Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland as they leave the pitch at half-time during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, northwest England on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) speaks with Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland as they leave the pitch at half-time during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, northwest England on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
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Haaland Back in the Groove with Double as Man City Win at Burnley

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) speaks with Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland as they leave the pitch at half-time during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, northwest England on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) speaks with Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland as they leave the pitch at half-time during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, northwest England on August 11, 2023. (AFP)

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland wasted no time opening his account for the new Premier League season with two goals as the champions began their title defense with a 3-0 stroll against promoted Burnley at Turf Moor on Friday.

Haaland, who bagged a Premier League season-record 36 goals and a total of 52 in all competitions for treble winners City last season, slotted his side in front after four minutes.

A stunning finish by the Norwegian in the 36th put City in cruise control with the only blot on their copybook being an injury to Kevin de Bruyne that forced him off in the first half.

Rodri drove home City's third from close range after 75 minutes to make it a chastening return to the top flight for a Burnley side managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany.

To complete the home side's misery they had substitute Anass Zaroury sent off in stoppage time for an ugly tackle on Kyle Walker, the decision being upgraded from a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson after a VAR check.

If anyone thought 23-year-old Haaland might struggle to match the record-smashing exploits of his first season in England, or whether it might take him a while to get up to speed, they were given an immediate answer.

He looked razor sharp from the opening whistle as City, who had no new faces in their starting lineup, sent out an early warning to any side trying to prevent them from winning a fourth successive English title.

"We started well. We found a goal, we struggled a bit after. We gave away balls, our pass created problems but after a while we played much, much better," Guardiola said.

Poacher’s goal

Haaland's opening goal was a typical poacher's effort, pouncing to jab a shot past goalkeeper James Trafford after Rodri headed a De Bruyne cross back into the area.

Burnley recovered from that early setback quite well and almost punished City for some sloppiness when Lyle Foster curled a shot past the far post.

De Bruyne did not last much longer though, limping off to be replaced by new signing Mateo Kovacic after 23 minutes.

But that did not disrupt City's rhythm and they doubled their lead when a patient build-up ended with Julian Alvarez teeing up Haaland who dispatched a clinical curling effort with his left foot into the net via the far post.

The second half was a lesson in game management by City who were content to run the legs out of Burnley.

They added a third when Rodri, scorer of the goal in the Champions League final exactly two months ago that sealed City's treble, thumped home after Burnley failed to deal with a set-piece played into their penalty area.

Haaland was substituted late on while City also offered a late cameo to new defensive signing Josko Gvardiol.

Burnley's big night did not go to plan on or off the field with the club apologizing for an object being thrown at City's Rico Lewis in the first half.

Kompany, who won two of his four City titles under Guardiola, knows his team must learn quickly.

"You can't feel good with a defeat, but I've seen enough to know we have made progress since the last time we played them," he said, referring to a 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss last term.

"This is going to be the worst we play this season, this team is only going to get stronger."



Lewis Hamilton Tempers Expectations as he Settles in with Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain in action during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan, 05 April 2025. The Formula One Japanese Grand Prix takes place on 06 April 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain in action during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan, 05 April 2025. The Formula One Japanese Grand Prix takes place on 06 April 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
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Lewis Hamilton Tempers Expectations as he Settles in with Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain in action during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan, 05 April 2025. The Formula One Japanese Grand Prix takes place on 06 April 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain in action during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan, 05 April 2025. The Formula One Japanese Grand Prix takes place on 06 April 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is not used to aiming lower. But he may need to as he adjusts to his first season with Ferrari.
He's won a record of 105 Formula 1 races, but it's anyone's guess when he'll make it 106. He's won only twice in the last three seasons, and is winless in the first two races in main event in 2025 going into Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
“There was obviously a huge amount of hype at the beginning of the year," he said ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. “I don’t know if everyone was expecting us to be winning from race one and winning the championship in our first year.”
“That wasn’t my expectation," he added. "I know that I’m coming into a new culture, a new team and it’s going to take time.”
Hamilton was among the quickest drivers on Saturday in the third practice session ahead of qualifying, The Associated Press reported. Lando Norris of McLaren led with a time of 1 minute, 27.965 seconds. Teammate Oscar Piastri was only 0.026 behind. Hamition was in sixth, 0.559 behind Norris.
Norris and Piastri have won the first two races this season in Australia and China and McLaren was also expected to dominate in Japan.
Hamilton's start to the season has been well documented. He was 10th in the season's first race in Australia, won the sprint in China two weeks ago, but was disqualified for technical infringements along with teammate Charles Leclerc in the main race on Sunday.
This was a major embarrassment for the best-financed team in F1.
“I saw someone said something about whether I’m losing faith in the team, which is complete rubbish,” Hamilton said. “I have absolute 100% faith in this team.”
Hamilton has won five times in Japan, but not since 2018. Hamilton, like many drivers, loves the Suzuka layout.
“This track is awesome,” he said. "It never ceases to amaze you when you get on this circuit.
“We've got some performance to pick up. We're not the quickest at the moment. But I think there's a good baseline.”