Manchester City defeats Napoli 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League; Phil Foden praises Erling Haaland's 'incredible' performance for breaking a scoring record
Manchester City's 2-0 Win Over Napoli: Haaland Breaks Champions League Records, Foden Shines
Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Napoli in their Champions League opener, with Erling Haaland breaking a long-standing record and Phil Foden impressing once again.
Haaland, who joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund last summer, scored his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 matches. This surpassed Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for the fewest number of matches to reach 50 Champions League goals, a feat accomplished in 62 games.
The goal, Haaland's first in the Champions League of the 2025-26 season, was a testament to his clinical finishing. Foden, who created eight chances during the match, the most by a City player in the Champions League since Kevin De Bruyne against Real Madrid in August 2020 (nine), provided the assist.
Foden was full of praise for Haaland, calling him an 'unbelievable player' and expressing his belief that the Norwegian striker is capable of breaking even more Champions League records. He also acknowledged Haaland's legendary status at Manchester City, stating, 'He's a legend of the club. I can't thank him enough for what he has done. He's forever going to be a legend here.'
De Bruyne, who played for Napoli in Thursday's match, was replaced in the 26th minute due to Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo's red card. The Belgian midfielder received a standing ovation from the Manchester City home support, a testament to his time at the club.
City's victory over Napoli ensured they started six of their last seven Champions League campaigns with a win (D1). As they shift their attention to their visit to Arsenal on Sunday, manager Pep Guardiola believes their win over Napoli is a solid foundation to build on.
City have not fared well in their last two Premier League visits to Arsenal, losing both (W7 D5 L2 beforehand). However, Guardiola will be hoping that Haaland's record-breaking form and Foden's creative prowess can help them break their losing streak against the Gunners.
Meanwhile, the player who scored the most Champions League goals in the 2025-26 season before signing with Manchester City is not explicitly stated in the search results. However, Erling Haaland, who currently plays for Manchester City, is the top favorite and only active player mentioned as a likely Champions League top scorer for that season. No evidence shows another player scoring more before joining Manchester City in that timeframe.
74 of Haaland's goals for Manchester City have been scored at the Etihad Stadium, a testament to his impact at home. Foden, who found it frustrating not to get many touches between the lines during the first half of the match, will be hoping for more chances to create and score as City aim to secure all three points against Arsenal.
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