England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

It's too easy for Mayra Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea are looking ominous

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Santos, Doak & the best EPL loanees of the season so far

Saudi Arabia or MLS beckons for Pogba after Juve release

Szoboszlai in tears as Netherlands vs Hungary is halted

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Rashford branded a 'clown' after attending New York Knicks game

Ronaldo sets clear timeline for retirement

Ex-Man Utd ace says Mainoo shouldn't be in Amorim's starting XI

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Norwegian in fine Premier League form</li><li>Frustrated in European action</li><li>Can now only match CR7 record</li></ul>

One shot & 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter

Serie A

Verona

Inter

Premier League

Manchester City

Tottenham

The Norwegian striker has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/erling-haaland-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-goal-records-sergio-aguero-man-city/bltc43e49fcc6366048" target="_blank">been in prolific form again at the start of the 2024-25 campaign</a>, hitting nine goals through four appearances – including hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham. He was, however, to post a blank in a European clash with Serie A heavyweights at the Etihad Stadium.

WHAT HAPPENED?

City opened their quest for continental glory with a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/man-city-player-ratings-vs-inter-erling-haaland-josko-gvardiol/blt96e3c97c68cb51b4" target="_blank">goalless stalemate at home to Inter</a>, with Italian rivals making life difficult for Guardiola’s side. Haaland was restricted to just 14 touches, seven completed passes and one shot across his 90 minutes on the field.<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">90 minutes played 14 touches of the ball 7 passes completed 1 shot on target A quiet night for Erling Haaland 👀 <a href="https://t.co/JikRyNpH7Y">pic.twitter.com/JikRyNpH7Y</a>— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1836514342403211497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Guardiola told reporters of why his superstar No.9 found the going so tough: “There were six players around him. Six. Three behind, three in front. That's how they kept him out of the game. That makes it difficult for any player. [Francesco] Acerbi, [Alessandro] Basotni were five metres away from him, [Hakan] Calhanoglou, [Piotr] Zielinski in front of him. That's tough. We tried to use the spaces, that's why [Ilkay] Gundogan had a couple of chances but Inter were stronger than us physically. We needed to get more players up alongside Erling and that's what we did. I knew that Inter would defend like that.”

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

Haaland’s failure to find the target means that he can <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/more-champions-league-games-good-news-erling-haaland-man-city-cristiano-ronado-goal-record/blt41cb12f671c174be" target="_blank">no longer beat Ronaldo to the record of quickest player to reach 100 goals for a club</a>. CR7 achieved that feat in 105 games for Real Madrid, and City’s talismanic frontman will match that return if he scores in City’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

WHAT NEXT?

One shot & 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter | Goal.com

Pep Guardiola has explained Erling Haaland’s quiet Champions League game vs Inter, with the Man City star failing to break a Cristiano Ronaldo record.

One shot &amp; 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter