THE NOTEBOOK: Erling Haaland proves one defender’s Kryptonite once again while Manuel…

Manchester City breezed into the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Copenhagen at the Etihad – with Erling Haaland on target again.

With a showdown against Premier League title rivals Liverpool now on the horizon, Pep Guardiola‘s Treble winners – and their formidable frontman – warmed up in style.

Manuel Akanji made the breakthrough after just five minutes while Julian Alvarez scored City’s second four minutes later, all but sealing the hosts’ progression. 

Haaland then struck before half-time and stands on the cusp of history, having hit his 41st goal in the competition in just 37 games to draw level with Sergio Aguero.

Here, Mail Sport‘s JOE BERNSTEIN takes a look at what you may have missed… 

Erling Haaland scored City’s third goal and warmed up for the trip to Liverpool superbly

SUPER HAALAND 

After leaving Nottingham Forest on loan in January, defender Scott McKenna must have been cursing having to face his Kryptonite, Erling Haaland, again so quickly.

On McKenna’s last visit to The Etihad in 2022, Haaland grabbed a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing over Forest. Things weren’t any easier for the Scotland international wearing a Copenhagen shirt on Wednesday night.

Already 2-0 behind, the centre-half was bamboozled by Haaland running at him shortly before half-time and beat the turf in frustration when the chance was converted.

The only consolation for McKenna is that he might be lining up for his country at the Euros this summer. Haaland definitely can’t say the same because Norway have failed to qualify.

It was also an unhappy north-west return for ex-Liverpool and Huddersfield goalkeeper Kamil Grabara whose blunder gifted Julian Alvarez City’s second goal. 

Social media poked fun at Grabara’s mask but that’s slightly harsh – he’s had to wear it for the last two years after suffering a facial fracture in a domestic game in Denmark.

Copenhagen defender Scott McKenna struggled to get to grips with Haaland once again

AKANJI IDENTIKIT PEP PLAYER 

Manuel Akanji is the perfect riposte to City trolls who claim the club have bought their success with untold millions. The versatile Swiss defender cost a bargain £15million but has become a very important part of Pep Guardiola’s new team.

Against Copenhagen, he was only one of four outfield starters from last season’s Champions League final – with Ruben Dias, Rodri and Haaland – and volleyed the opening goal like an international striker.

Akanji is the identikit Pep player because of his versatility, operating at right-back, left-back and even holding midfield at times this season. 

For this Champions League tie, he was the right-sided centre-half alongside Dias – who at £60million is more in City’s usual price range.

Manuel Akanji, bought for just £15million, is the perfect riposte to trolling of City’s spending

CITY’S ESTEEMED GUEST

City like to pride themselves on looking after their legacy players and on Wednesday night there were guest tickets for popular 1970s and 80s midfielder Asa Hartford. 

Now 73, Hartford was part of three consecutive UEFA Cup campaigns for the Sky Blues with their best run coming to an end against Borussia Monchengladbach in the quarter-finals of 1978/79.

ROONY’S CAMEO 

Scouts who flocked to the Etihad to check on 18-year-old Copenhagen prodigy Roony Bardghji were relieved that coach Jacob Neestrup gave him the final half-hour off the bench. 

The Swedish teenager has been linked with Manchester United, Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Though Copenhagen were largely starved of the ball, he showed enough hustle and sure touches to indicate he’s definitely one to watch out for.

Scouts who flocked to the Etihad took in an impressive cameo from starlet Roony Bardghji