Business as Usual for Haaland in Manchester City - Leverkusen?
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard
Haaland’s Man City Eyes Top of UCL Table in Round 5
With the possibility of Bayern and Arsenal dropping points in their gruesome Wednesday clash, Manchester City can go to the very top of the table with a convincing win over Leverkusen.
As SportyTrader’s football expert think in our Man City vs Leverkusen prediction, the Citizens are likely to take all three points. But they'll be gunning to do so with multiple goals that could secure them an automatic playoff spot if it comes down to goal difference. That's the plan, and they have just the man to execute it. Erling Haaland has been arguably the best striker in the world this season, with 22 goals already in just November.
In the Champions League alone, Haaland has scored in all four games, netting five goals in total. Pundits think it'll be business as usual, with the 6’5” Norwegian striker putting one or more goals behind Mark Flekken, the expected Leverkusen goalie for tonight. But goals against Bayer 04 aren't anything new to the Premier League's leading goal scorer.
In his spell for Dortmund, Erling played four games against Leverkusen. And while he didn't manage a goal or assist in his first two games, he scored two goals each in his last two games and recorded an assist. And with Haaland netting a brace in four of his last five games, he might just net his third straight brace against the 2023/24 unbeaten Bundesliga champions.
Can Leverkusen End Haaland’s Scoring Streak and Pick Up Points?
If there’s one fact about football, it’s that games are not won on paper. While the betting odds overwhelmingly favour Manchester City at home in this Champions League game, Leverkusen might just walk away with a shock away victory or draw. After a shaky start to the season under former coach Ten Hag, Leverkusen have been back to their best with only three losses in 18 competitive games.
And in recent games, Bayer 04 have been brilliant, winning five of their last six, and only losing to Bayern Munich. Away from home, Leverkusen have also been stellar, as they’ve lost only one of their nine road games.
In the UCL, Bayer 04 are yet to lose an away game after drawing Copenhagen 2-2 in the first before taking a well-deserved 1-0 road win over Mourinho’s Benfica side. They might not win or even keep Erling Haaland from scoring, but Leverkusen might have just enough fight in them to steal a point from Man City in England.
