"Manchester City secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium. City began the evening outisde of the top-eight positions in the league phase but goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, alongside other results going their way, ensured it was a relatively comfortable evening for Pep Guardiola's side. After a poor league phase campaign last season saw them go on to be eliminated by Real Madrid in the play-offs last season, City will be delighted to have made no mistake in securing their route straight through to the knockout round proper this time around."
"Amidst the chaos of the final night of league phase action, City's task was simple - win, and hope the other results go their way to secure top eight. And they should have been ahead only a few minutes in when Haaland couldn't get his header on target from a delicious Rayan Ait-Nouri cross in a chance that he really should have buried. But not long later, Haaland's goal drought was over as he raced onto a Jeremy Doku through ball before a typically-composed chip into the back of the net. The goal brought City back into the top eight for the time being at least and settle some nerves inside the Etihad."
Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-0 at the Etihad to secure a place in the Champions League last 16. Goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, combined with favourable results elsewhere, ensured a comfortable route through the group. The victory ended lingering nerves after a poor league-phase campaign last season that saw elimination by Real Madrid in the play-offs. A late wait followed as other fixtures concluded, but a decisive result in Portugal confirmed City's top-eight finish. City created early chances, Haaland converted a composed chip, and several saves denied further goals.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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