Erling Haaland reminded the football world of his unstoppable form on Thursday night, June 26, 2025, as Manchester City cruised to a 3-1 pre-season win over Borussia Monchengladbach in Klagenfurt, Austria. The Norwegian striker bagged a sensational second-half double, giving Pep Guardiola’s side their second straight victory in their European summer tour.
Spectators at the Wörthersee Stadion witnessed a lively start from both teams, but it was Julian Alvarez who broke the deadlock for City in the 32nd minute with a clever finish following an incisive pass from Phil Foden. Gladbach responded quickly through Alassane Pléa, whose strike from just outside the box leveled the match before halftime.
Haaland stepped up after the break, stamping his authority with two quickfire goals. The first came in the 54th minute after a powerful solo run through the heart of Gladbach’s defense. His second, in the 67th minute, was a textbook poacher’s finish after Foden delivered a low cross into the box, sending the City fans in the stadium into a frenzy.
Guardiola made several substitutions late in the game, giving debuts to new signings Valentin Barco and Oscar Bobb, while also handing valuable minutes to academy talents Shea Charles and Rico Lewis. The tactical shuffle allowed City to maintain control of possession, with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne dictating the midfield tempo until the final whistle.
Haaland’s brace takes his pre-season tally to four goals in two matches, sending an early warning to Premier League defenders ahead of the 2025/26 season. Speaking after the game, Guardiola praised his striker’s killer instinct: “Erling is always hungry for goals. He doesn’t care if it’s a friendly or a final. That’s why he’s one of the best.”
The City squad will now travel to Munich for their next fixture against Bayern on July 2, 2025, as they continue fine-tuning ahead of the Community Shield clash with Arsenal later next month. Fans back home in Manchester flooded social media with praise for Haaland, with many dubbing him “The Machine” after his latest performance.
With their preseason momentum building, City supporters are already dreaming of another dominant campaign. As for Haaland, the message is clear: he’s ready, he’s ruthless, and he’s coming for more records.
