Erling Haaland has become the youngest player to score 30 Champions League goals on his way to scoring a remarkable five in Manchester City’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.
Haaland fired City in front in the 22nd minute with his second penalty in as many games, with goalkeeper Janis Blaswich going the right way but unable to keep the shot out in the corner.
City were awarded a penalty when referee Slavko Vincic was sent to the pitchside monitor minutes after Rodri’s header brushed the arm of Benjamin Henrichs, who had his back to the midfielder as they both leapt for the ball.
Haaland had a second moments later as De Bruyne’s shot from the edge of the area crashed back off the crossbar and the Norwegian was on hand to nod home the rebound.
Haaland completed his fifth hat-trick of the season in first-half stoppage time, prodding in from point-blank range after Ruben Dias’ header struck a post and rolled across the goal-line.
There was no let-up from City in the second half as Ilkay Gundogan made it 4-0 within four minutes of the restart, threading the ball through the box and inside the right-hand post after exchanging passes with Jack Grealish.
Haaland had his fourth, and City’s fifth, in the 53rd minute, poking in from close range after a corner led to a goalmouth scramble.
Blaswich saved Haaland’s initial header and a follow-up effort from Manuel Akanji before Haaland thumped in the loose ball.
The relentless Haaland had his fifth of the night before the hour mark, again picking up the pieces after Blaswich could only parry Akanji’s effort from a corner.
There was no double hat-trick for Haaland as he was replaced by Julian Alvarez in the 63rd minute, leaving him tied with Lionel Messi for the most goals in a single Champions League match.
In Haaland’s sights now will be the records concerning 40 Champions League goals.
Van Nistelrooy holds the record for being the fastest player to reach that tally, doing so in 45 games, 14 fewer than Mbappe, who bagged his 40th in his 59th outing.
Mbappe remains the youngest player to hit 40, doing so at 23 years, 317 days.
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