Manchester City’s first game without Haaland = first game without a goal scored. Another tactical move by Guardiola?

Erling Haaland was on the bench for the first time this season and Manchester City didn’t score a goal. Still, we can talk about the fact that Pep Guardiola’s charges were very unlucky against Copenhagen. In this article, however, we look at the Danish team’s stats, which prove that this is no fluke.

Haaland has started all of Manchester City’s games so far, and there has only been one time that he didn’t make an appearance, and that was against Bournemouth. However, the Citizens still won 4-0 and the Norwegian hitman scored one point for an assist.

In total, Haaland has already racked up 13 goals in 20 games and has assisted on 3 more. However, a change came on Tuesday night when Guardiola decided to spare his key striker. The reason?

The Spanish coach let it be known that he picked a line-up that was supposed to cater for full points. And that would have been the case, too, had it not been for several successive events that affected the result. VAR, a missed penalty and a red card for Sergio Gomez.

“We adapted to the game very well. We were close, but now we have to go to Dortmund and secure first place,” Guardiola said after the game.

But it is no coincidence that the Citizens failed to win in Copenhagen. The Danish club have lost only one of their last 14 home games in the Champions League group stage, with the last four always ending in goalless draws. That’s just saying something.

However, many are still shaking their heads as to why Guardiola didn’t let Haaland on the pitch. However, the draw was enough for Manchester City to secure their place in the spring competition. Moreover, the English side have tough matches in short succession before the club’s month-long break.

The Norwegian striker will take a breather and regain his motivation to score goals. The Spanish coach is not only at his best because of his game tactics, but above all because of the right treatment of his players, which he keeps in check.

Moreover, Haaland himself will not feature at the World Cup in Qatar as the Norwegians finished third in Group G behind the Netherlands and Turkey. So he will have plenty of time to rest.

Sources: UEFA, Goal