Haaland scores five as Man City thrash Luton with four De Bruyne assists

27 February 2024 , 22:00

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Erling Haaland (R) scored five of Manchester City's goals against Luton (Image: Getty Images)

There is simply no stopping Manchester City’s incredible double act.

Erling Haaland scored five, Kevin De Bruyne provided four of the assists and Pep Guardiola has got his sights on another Treble. City are now into the FA Cup sixth round, one step away from the Champions League quarter finals and nicely poised in the Premier League title race.

You would have to be brave against them repeating last season’s heroics as well as winning a historic fourth consecutive title in the process. Haaland is now up to 27 goals in 29 games across all competitions while De Bruyne is back to fitness and form at just the right time. Incredibly, De Bruyne has 11 assists in the 12 games he has played this season.

But it was also their telepathic understanding which destroyed poor Luton as four times De Bruyne set up Haaland with Bernardo Silva providing the other assist before Mateo Kovacic hit his own wonder strike from 25 yards.

Very briefly Luton gave City a scare as they got the score back to 3-2 with Jordan Clark scoring twice - both assisted by Ross Barkley - but Guardiola’s men just looked on another planet. They look like the best team in Europe. They have got the best players, the best midfielder in De Bruyne and the most deadly striker in Haaland. He got 52 goals last season and give him enough time then he might just get close again.

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The only downside was another injury to City’s England midfielder Jack Grealish who limped off after just 39 minutes before covering his face on the bench as he looked to be in tears. But that was the only blemish as City were ahead after four minutes. Matheus Nunes played in De Bruyne and his cross was fired home by Haaland.

Soon afterwards it was 2-0 and another for Haaland. It was the same double act as, first, City keeper Stefan Ortega pumped the ball forward, Haaland laid it back to De Bruyne. De Bruyne’s superb first time pass released Haaland who held off Teden Mengi, powered through and then his shot was so fierce that Krul could not stop it.

Haaland chips the ball over Tim Krul to complete his hat-trick (Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)

Haaland was on a mission. Yet again, De Bruyne’s pass set it up as the City midfielder was in his own half when he released Haaland who sprinted clear before firing past Krul again to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes. Finally something went Luton’s way as the home side recovered some pride in the 45th minute. Clark’s brilliant dipping 20 yard shot to beat Ortega as the ball went into the far corner.

Then the same combination worked again as Barkley’s clever flicked pass played in Clark who drilled past Stefan Ortega. The comeback lasted all of three minutes. Kyle Walker’s pass played in De Bruyne and his cross was put in by Haaland. That made it four goals for Haaland and four assists for De Bruyne.

That combination was finally ended after 58 minutes when Bernardo Silva took his turn to set up Haaland again and the City striker’s fierce shot went through Krul’s legs. 5-2. Then the scoring finished after 73 minutes when Kovacic stormed forward and this shot flew past Krul. No wonder the away end chanted: “Champions again!” What a night.

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John Cross