Manchester City began their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaign with a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the Etihad on Wednesday, September 18. Prolific goalscorer Erling Haaland drew a blank, leaving fans bemused and making the Norwegian the subject of criticism online.
The City striker has started the season in grand fashion, scoring nine goals, including two hat-tricks in four Premier League matches.
Football fans came in hordes to question the striker’s goalscoring record in big matches after his blank against the Serie A champions.
“Haaland ghosting in big games again,” a Manchester United fan commented.
“Where is world best striker Haaland🤧Sorry small team bullie👍🏻,” a user resorted to name-calling.
“He always vanishes in big games only to statpadd during the weekend,” opined a user.
“Big games are not for Haaland,” said another.”Haaland only performing against relegation teams 😂,” teased a user.
Some even mocked the Manchester City star while praising Inter’s defense.
“Look what happens to Haaland when he faces a proper defence,” posted a user.
“Haaland struggling against actually good defenders #notsurprised,” another agreed.
Manchester City’s next Champions League match is against Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava in two weeks’ time on October 1.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland misses out on breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record
Erling Haaland’s stellar start to the season had brought him on the brink of breaking yet another record. If he had scored against Inter, the Norwegian would have become the fastest player to score a century of goals for a single club.
With 99 goals in 103 matches ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League opener, the 24-year-old needed to score one goal against Inter. The striker, however, was kept quiet by the Italian giants in the goalless draw.
The current holder of the record is Real Madrid legend and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese ace scored a century of goals for Los Blancos in his first 105 appearances for the club.
Despite drawing blank against Inter, Haaland can still match Ronaldo’s record if he goes on to score at the weekend. The task, however, will not be easy as City face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, September 22.
In four league matches against the Gunners, the Manchester City striker has scored twice and provided as many assists.
