Haaland Double Powers Manchester City Past Porto in Champions League Opener

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a victory away to Porto on Tuesday. The Guardian reported that the win at the Estádio do Dragão gave new manager Enzo Maresca a fourth victory from his first four matches in charge.

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City entered the fixture with an uneven recent away record in Europe, having lost six of their previous nine road games in the competition. The venue also carried difficult memories from their defeat in the 2021 Champions League final, but Maresca's side left Porto with all three points before a demanding run that includes Paris Saint-Germain in their next European match and Manchester United in Sunday's derby.

Maresca handed Ayyoub Bouaddi a full debut in midfield alongside Enzo Fernández, while Haaland led an attack supported by Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. Porto threatened during the first half, with Gianluigi Donnarumma forced into a save from Gabriel Veiga before an offside flag was raised. At the other end, Diogo Costa stopped a Haaland header as City began to create clearer openings.

The visitors increased the pressure before halftime but could not make the breakthrough. Haaland headed another delivery over, while Foden and Cherki were also denied. Porto reached the interval level after beginning the season with five wins from five in Portugal's Primeira Liga.

City went ahead soon after the restart. Cherki carried the ball into the penalty area and supplied Fernández, whose cross was headed down and into the net by Haaland. Porto responded with an opportunity for André Silva, but his shot struck the side-netting as the hosts pursued an equaliser.

Maresca then introduced Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye for Cherki and Semenyo in an effort to add control while retaining a threat on the counterattack. Porto continued to push forward, but Haaland settled the contest late with a right-footed finish. His two goals secured City's ideal start in the league phase and maintained Maresca's unbeaten opening to his tenure.