Erling Haaland made history once again as Manchester City eased past Napoli with a 2-0 victory in their Champions League opener at the Etihad Stadium.

The Norwegian striker became the fastest player in history to reach 50 Champions League goals, achieving the milestone in just 49 appearances—smashing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 62 games.

Haaland Makes the Difference

After a frustrating first half where City dominated but couldn’t find the breakthrough, Haaland opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Rising high to meet Phil Foden’s delicate chip, the 24-year-old headed home to send the Etihad into celebration.

Jeremy Doku sealed the win 10 minutes later with a dazzling run and composed finish past Vanja Milinković-Savić, ensuring Pep Guardiola’s men began their European campaign with maximum points.

Napoli Reduced to Ten Men

The Italian side’s task became more difficult when captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was shown a red card in the first half for denying Haaland a clear goalscoring opportunity. Manager Antonio Conte reshuffled his side, but the man disadvantage proved costly.

De Bruyne’s Emotional Return

The match also marked a special occasion for Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to his former club after leaving on a free transfer in the summer. The Belgian playmaker received a warm ovation from both sets of fans as he stepped onto and later left the pitch.

City’s Missed Chances Before Breakthrough

Before Haaland’s opener, City created a host of opportunities. Tijjani Reijnders forced a strong save from Milinković-Savić, while Rodri tested the goalkeeper with a long-range strike. Josko Gvardiol came close with a curling effort just before halftime, and Reijnders’ inventive backward header narrowly missed the target.

What’s Next?

The win gives City a strong start in Europe, but Guardiola’s side quickly turn their focus to a Premier League showdown against Arsenal at the Emirates this Sunday—a clash that could have major title implications.