Man City’s comprehensive defeat against Real Madrid summarized the difference of the two pioneer strikers of world football. In that picture, there was no comparison with Erling Haaland because Kylian Mbappe has reached another level.
At Real Madrid, it was hoped that Erling Haaland would form a dream partnership with Kylian Mbappe. It is “Operacion en Marcha” – the campaign is taking place – on the first page of Marca since Haaland was still in Dortmund, and those hope only ended when Man City agreed on a 9 -and -a -half -year contract with the Na player Uy last month.
When the siren sounded in the resounding victory of Real, both players sat on the bench, but there was a huge contrast. Haaland sitting on the bench from beginning to end after injury made him unable to enter the yard. Mbappe is different, he recorded a beautiful hat-trick and left the field in the joy of joy. “I want to write history with Real Madrid. My adaptation period has ended and now I have to show my quality,” Mbappe said later.
Following different roads, now the results of both are also very different. Mbappe raised his total goals to 28 in the season, and his longest “drought” was 4 matches. When Kiki went through difficult times in his “adaptation” at the beginning of the season, he was pulled by his teammates.
The stability in Haaland’s goals, too, with 27 impressive goals when considering the results of City. But when he needed his teammates to help him overcome, as he needed in the second leg of this Champions League play-off, they could not do it.
The first leg of the play-off round will be remembered with Real’s late goals at Etihad, thereby flipping the flag. But should not forget that Haaland has one of the best performance in the season, pulling Real’s defense in many different directions, overwhelming them in bodybuilding, and scoring 2 important goals as if yes. can decide the match.
But at the Bernabeu, Haaland looked extremely disappointed on the bench. Wearing a bracelet for everyone- it has the words “F — Cancer”- he still sat still when other reserve teammates started in the second half. It was a great risk when bringing Haaland into the field at 4-2, 5-2 or 6-2. Pep Guardiola could not take the risk of losing his amulet for more matches.
Guardiola gave Haaland as much time possible to pass the physical test after a collision in the match against Newcastle United. Luckily for Haaland is the results of the screening are fine, but he still feels uncomfortable. If City wants to play in the Champions League next season, they will need Haaland to return to play. For a player who missed many parts of the previous seasons, it was hard to believe that this was the first match of the Norwegian striker to miss this season for health.
Mbappe seized the opportunity – and set the match – when Haaland was on the bench. His goals made City look naive: lifting the ball over Ederson’s head, tricking Josko Gvardiol sliding for the second goal , then punishing City to complete his hat-trick.
“A perfect night for the team,” Mbappe said. “When you confront Man City, it is always a difficult match, but we know that at home, we will be very strong. We have played better as a team and we were already Can bring a lot of fun for fans. We have to continue this way if I want to win this season.