IT'S JUST MEN AGAINST BOYS

Haaland nets twice as champions flex their muscles

- GIDEON BROOKS

IT was not the perfect performance from either Manchester City or Erling Haaland but the result will do just fine.

And with his first two goals in the Champions League in six games, the striker served notice he might just be coming to the boil nicely for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Haaland's first came from the penalty spot and his second, a hooked instinctive finish into the roof of the net on 86 minutes, delivered a 37th in just 33 Champions League games.

It added to Manuel Akanji's 48th minute opener, equalised by Meschack Elia's deft chip, to give City a comfortable scoreline and nine points from three matches in Group G. This was job done in Switzerland and it lent a hefty shove to their prospects of securing safe passage to the knockout stages at the earliest possible opportunity.

Qualification can be secured in the reverse fixture at the Etihad on November 7.