Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City began their Premier League title defence in confident fashion by brushing aside West Ham 2-0 in front of a record crowd at the London Stadium.
A crowd of 62,443 packed into the Hammers’ home ground – the biggest of any London-based club – only to be met by the towering presence of Haaland and the wizardry of Ilkay Gundogan.
After a lethargic start, where the hosts were forced into changing goalkeepers after an untimely injury to Lukasz Fabianski, City captain Gundogan seized the initiative with an incisive pass that found the clever run of former Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland, who was then upended by substitute ‘keeper Alphonse Areola.
The Norway international predictably found the back of the net from 12 yards with a coolly-struck spot-kick to open the scoring (26), before latching onto Kevin De Bruyne’s defence-splitting ball and slotting home his second of the afternoon (65).
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Haaland is the second debutant in Premier League history to win a penalty and then successfully convert it, and the second striker to register twice on their City debut, matching Sergio Aguero’s feat from August 2011.
How Man City overpowered West Ham’s meagre resistance
“Our opening fixture couldn’t be more testing,” David Moyes acknowledged in his pre-match programme notes, and his side felt the full force of City’s attacking vigour during a game that grew steadily in entertainment value.
Michail Antonio had threatened to break the deadlock early on, directing a header marginally over, but it was De Bruyne who went closest when rounding off an archetypal City move in the 27th minute, having been unsurprisingly found by Gundogan – the goal was swiftly chalked off by the linesman’s flag.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who have invested heavily in the transfer window but also recuperated more than they have spent, were spearheaded by summer arrival Haaland, who fired a warning shot when attempting to meet Phil Foden’s deft cross midway through the half, before fully announcing his Premier League emergence with the game’s opener from the spot.
Declan Rice was the beneficiary of a momentary lapse in City concentration in the 54th minute, as West Ham pounced on a misplaced Gundogan pass, but the shot flew over as the visitors reduced their hosts to snapshots and half chances throughout.
The tie was over when Haaland raced onto De Bruyne’s through ball nine minutes after Rice’s miss, leaving Areola stranded as he swept the chance into the far corner to complete a deadly double.
It is easy to see why City are bookmakers’ favourite to become the first team to win three straight Premier League titles since Manchester United achieved the feat between 2006-09. They remain unbeaten since October 2021.
What’s next?
West Ham are on their travels in the Premier League’s second round of fixtures and will visit Nottingham Forest, who lost to Newcastle on opening weekend, with that game taking place on Sunday August 14, live on Sky Sports. The match starts at 2pm.
Manchester City return home to host Bournemouth next Saturday, 3pm, before a trip to face Eddie Howe’s rejuvenated Newcastle on Sunday August 21, live on Sky Sports.