Haaland scores twice as Man City dispatch Burnley on EPL opening day

Champions, Manchester City got off to a flying start to the defence of their Premier League title with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Burnley on Friday night.

Erling Haaland picked up from his last season’s goal-scoring form by scoring a brace while Rodri completed the win with a goal of his own in the 75th minute.

It took only 185 seconds for the Citizens to open their account for the new campaign when the Norwegian struck a blow from which the newly promoted Clarets never recovered.

Haaland pounced in the area when Rodri headed down Kevin de Bruyne’s cross, then curled in a magnificent left-foot strike into the top corner beyond Burnley keeper James Trafford after 36 minutes to effectively end the contest.

Burnley, roared on by a passionate home crowd, never gave up but City’s control grew more emphatic as the game went on, Rodri turning home the third with 15 minutes left after the home defence failed to clear a free-kick.

It all ended very comfortably for City, their night only marred by another injury for De Bruyne, who limped off after only 23 minutes to be replaced by summer signing Mateo Kovacic.

Burnley had Anass Zaroury sent off in injury time, after a video assistant referee review, for a dangerous lunge on Kyle Walker.