LONDON: Borussia Dortmund do not need warning about Erling Haaand. He scored 89 goals for them and had since added 141 for Manchester City. Yet the Norwegian is hungrier than ever. He proved the point with two first-half goals in City’s 3-1 defeat of Bournemouth.

This was just the sort of confidence-creating platform manager Pep Guardiola wanted for both his star striker and his team ahead of Dortmund’s visit.

Haaland struck a memorable acrobatic winner against Dortmund in City’s 2:1 Champions League victory in September 2022 and has already scored four times in three Champions League ties this term. His form continues to be lethal. He boasts a remarkable 26 goals in 16 matches this season for club and country.

Bournemouth had kicked off in second place in the table but Haaland and his team-mates have now leaped up from eighth to overtake them. He not only scored twice but was involved in the build-up for his first goal and might have had a first-half hat-trick but for a fortunate save by keeper Djorjde Petrovic.

Haaland suffered a minor injury in the defeat by Aston Villa and missed the midweek League Cup win over Swansea to ensure his fitness ahead of a big week. City follow the Dortmund tie with a home Premier League clash against Liverpool.

American Taylor Adams, inbetween Haaland’s goals, punished a misjudgment by Gianluigi Donnarumma at a corner. City then pulled clear in the second half through Nico O’Reilly.

Guardiola substituted Haaland in the 82nd minute. This was the 15th time in his City career that he has been replaced within sight of a hat-trick but he will be back on Wednesday to start again.

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