Manchester City cruised to their first win in the Champions League this season with Erling Haaland among the goalscorers in a 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava that did little justice to the visitors' dominance. Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden struck within the first 15 minutes to set Man City on their way. Haaland added his 42nd Champions League goal in 41 appearances before James McAtee registered his first goal in the competition for the club. After a stuttering start to their European campaign in a 0-0 draw at home to Inter Milan on matchday one, the English champions are up in running in the competition's new format.
Phil Foden scored and got an assist as Manchester City claimed a comfortable first Champions League win of the season at Slovan Bratislava. The England midfielder has struggled to find the form that saw him named PFA Player of the Season last year, but he made the most of only his second start this term.
After Ilkay Gundogan had scored his first goal since his return to Man City with a deflected strike in the eighth minute, Foden opened his own account for the campaign with a composed finish into the bottom corner seven minutes later. City then hit the woodwork three times – through Jeremy Doku, Foden and Gundogan – as they continued to dominate, before Erling Haaland grabbed his 11th of the season just before the hour mark, taking the ball past goalkeeper Dominik Takac to slot home.
Foden then cleverly flicked the ball through for substitute James McAtee to get his first City goal in the 74th minute.
"All of us are so happy for him," said boss Pep Guardiola said of 21-year-old McAtee. "He's adorable and all the guys love him.
"For him, it will be a good boost. We want to make him feel like, 'you are part of that group, you are able to play'. Hopefully today can help him in that."
Only heroics from Slovan stopper Takac denied City further goals, but the victory was their first in the revamped Champions League format after drawing at home to Inter Milan in their opening fixture.
