Manchester City did not deliver their most spectacular performance, but they got exactly what they came for at the Estádio do Dragão: a win. For Enzo Maresca's first European match on the Manchester bench, the Skyblues beat Porto 2-0 thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.
A tense first half
Under persistent rain, Porto nonetheless started with a lot of intensity. City dominated possession but struggled to build any real tempo. The Portuguese side pressed high and took advantage of a few English mistakes to create the first chances.
Donnarumma in particular had to stay alert on a Portuguese attack finished off by Veiga. City gradually responded: Phil Foden switched flanks, Rayan Cherki looked for space, and Haaland began to put pressure on the defence.
On several occasions, the Norwegian came close to opening the scoring. His header from a Foden cross was saved by Diogo Costa, and another attempt then went just over the bar.
The first half therefore ended goalless, tense, with the match also heating up off the pitch. A scuffle broke out near the tunnel at half-time after a clash between Marc Guéhi and Gabriel Veiga, while Rúben Dias was involved in the tension that followed.
Haaland makes the difference
City came back out, however, with a different attitude. In the 47th minute, the breakthrough came: Cherki beat his opponent inside the box, found Enzo Fernández, who in turn set up Haaland. The Norwegian dived and placed an unstoppable header. 1-0.
Porto then had to push further forward, which opened up space. Maresca adjusted his side after the hour mark by bringing on Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye. City now looked to control the game rather than rush things.
Porto continued to pose threats nonetheless, and City were not entirely comfortable: Donnarumma remained busy. But Haaland was waiting for his moment.
It came in the 91st minute. The Norwegian popped up again and struck with his right foot to score the second goal, sealing the win for good.
With this brace, Haaland has now reached 59 goals in 59 Champions League matches and 167 goals in a Manchester City shirt.
First takeaway
Maresca's City side seems less obsessed with putting on a show than with being effective. Porto resisted for a long time, but the English side knew how to wait for their moment.
Young Ayyoub Bouaddi, who started for his first European appearance with City, also left an interesting impression. Haaland himself described him as 'a gem', while jokingly criticising him for not passing to him on a second-half chance.
'A gem' — Erling Haaland on Ayyoub Bouaddi.
City therefore begin their campaign with an away win. Not necessarily spectacular, but particularly important for a project that is still finding its rhythm.
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