Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored an early goal to take the champions provisionally top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over lowly Southampton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Norwegian scored twice, including a backheel at shoulder height, as City ran riot against the Czech champions.
Manchester City cruised to their first win in the Champions League this season with Erling Haaland among the goalscorers in a 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava that did little justice to the visitors' dominance.
Manchester City failed to shrug off the absence of Rodri in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle as they dropped Premier League points for the second consecutive game on Saturday.
It’s the latest remarkable signpost for the greatest goalscorer of his generation, after winning the Premier League Golden Boot in his first two campaigns in England.
Brentford had the perfect start when Yoane Wissa opened the scoring 22 seconds after kickoff to stun the Etihad Stadium but Haaland restored parity in the 19th minute when he scored from a tight angle with just his second touch of the game.
Haaland has been the Premier League's top scorer for the last two seasons and the Norwegian has already netted seven goals in three matches this season, including two hat-tricks.
The 24-year-old Norwegian scored his 11th hattrick for City to extend the champions' perfect start to their title defence, notching up his seventh goal in three league games this season.
Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hattrick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.
Erling Haaland misses Manchester City's Premier League clash against Luton on Sunday with a foot injury that could impact his availability for the champions' hectic Christmas schedule.
Erling Haaland faces possible disciplinary action after complaining about referee Simon Hooper on social media following Manchester City's dramatic 3-3 draw with Tottenham on Sunday.
Liverpool snapped Manchester City's 23-match winning run at the Etihad as a clash between the Premier League's top two ended 1-1 on Saturday.
Liverpool will become the latest team to attempt to storm Manchester City's Etihad fortress this weekend as Everton focus on Premier League survival following a punishing points deduction for breaching financial rules.
Scotland will not face the firepower of Erling Haaland in Sunday's Euro 2024 qualifier after the Manchester City striker was ruled out with a foot injury.
Pep Guardiola's team have won all four of their Group G matches, ensuring their progress to the last 16 with two games to spare.
Messi won the award for a record-extending eighth time on Monday after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last season.
Nothing in life is certain except death, taxes, and Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or. But perhaps this time, it could have been Erling Haaland.
Lionel Messi said Monday he was not thinking about his long-term future as he sought to enjoy winning the eighth Ballon d'Or of his storied career.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland is an 'incredible professional' after the Norwegian scored twice in his side's 3-1 win at Young Boys all but secured their spot in the Champions League knockout stage.