Erling Haaland’s double against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday saw him match Lionel Messi for the longest scoring run under Pep Guardiola’s management.
The Norwegian has hit the ground running at Manchester City and has 17 goals in his last nine appearances, with three hat-tricks and at least one goal in each game.
Here, the PA news agency looks at how Haaland compares to Messi, as well as the previous longest runs for Guardiola’s City side.
Lionel Messi
October to November 2010
Barcelona’s greatest ever goalscorer achieved a nine-game scoring run in October and November 2010, with 15 goals in total.
He scored all Barca’s goals in a pair of 2-0 wins over Copenhagen and Real Zaragoza and, after skipping the cup tie against lowly AD Ceuta, returned with another brace in a 5-0 win over Sevilla.
He netted in the return fixtures with Copenhagen and Ceuta, sandwiching a league goal against Getafe, and added two against Villarreal and a hat-trick in an 8-0 thumping of Almeria. Panathinaikos were his final victims before a 5-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid in which he settled for a pair of assists.
February to March 2012
If that 15-goal salvo seemed impressive, Messi also scored a scarcely believable 18 goals in eight games between February 14 and March 24, 2012.
He rounded off a 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen, added four goals in a 5-1 rout of Valencia and scored the winner against Atletico Madrid before sitting out the win over Sporting Gijon.
He returned to action with five goals in the Champions League return leg against Leverkusen, adding two at Racing Santander and one at Sevilla before his hat-trick earned a 5-3 win over Granada. A goal against Mallorca completed his scoring run before a goalless draw with AC Milan.
Sergio Aguero
May to September 2019
Aguero scored in seven straight City appearances to bring up the longest run by any Guardiola player other than his great compatriot.
The run began in City’s final Premier League game of 2018-19, a 4-1 win over Brighton, before Aguero was a frustrated unused substitute for the FA Cup final rout of Watford.
He opened the new season with a penalty against West Ham and scored against Tottenham before successive doubles in wins over Bournemouth and Brighton.
He netted in a shock 3-2 loss to Norwich and watched the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk from the bench before getting his goal against Watford in an 8-0 win. A scoreless substitute appearance against Everton ended the fun.
Riyad Mahrez
Perfect night @ home 💙 great work from the team again 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/CL9T5HC7cH
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) February 9, 2022
December 2021 to February 2022
Mahrez matched Aguero in a run spanning a trip away to the Africa Cup of Nations.
He scored a Champions League consolation against RB Leipzig and was an unused substitute against Wolves before a goal in each game as City beat Leeds 7-0, Newcastle 4-0 and Leicester 6-3 over Christmas.
He netted against Arsenal before joining up with Algeria, and returned with an FA Cup brace against Fulham and a fourth penalty in as many appearances against Brentford before being shut out by Norwich.
Erling Haaland
What a start! 👊
🔵 1-0 ⚫️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/vbHqvYDQEr— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 5, 2022
August to October 2022
The Norwegian scored in City’s comeback to draw 3-3 with Newcastle and hit hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest before a goal against Aston Villa.
His form transferred to the Champions League, with two goals against Sevilla and one against his former club Borussia Dortmund.
Another followed against Wolves before the Manchester derby brought a third successive home league hat-trick, and he matched Messi by scoring twice against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.
