Erling Haaland has equalled a Premier League scoring record set by Didier Drogba after netting a brace in Manchester City's 3-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Friday night.
The Norwegian enjoyed an astonishing record-breaking debut campaign with the Citizens last season, scoring 52 goals in 53 games for the treble winners across all competitions, including 36 goals in the Premier League.
Haaland began life in the English top flight in emphatic fashion with two goals in a 2-0 win over West Ham United in Man City's opening game of last season.
The 22-year-old has since replicated that feat with a brace against Burnley, netting the opening goal in just the fourth minute with a first-time volley into the bottom corner after receiving a header from Rodri inside the penalty area.
Haaland doubled his and City's advantage nine minutes before half time with a stunning left-footed strike in off the crossbar before Rodri sealed all three points for the reigning Premier League champions with a close-range finish on the 75-minute mark.
Haaland has now become just the second player in Premier League history to score at least two goals in a team's opening match of a season in consecutive years after former Chelsea striker Drogba.
The Blues legend scored twice in a 2-1 win over Hull City back in 2009-10 before netting a hat-trick in a thumping 6-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion the following season.
Haaland has now scored against 17 of the 20 Premier League teams that he has faced since joining Man City, while he has netted a total of 99 career goals in Europe's top-five leagues, scoring at least once against 35 of the 40 opponents that he has come up against with the Citizens and Borussia Dortmund.
City's No.9, who was named Man of the Match, was pleased to have made a strong start to the new campaign, telling mancity.com: "It was good to start again. It's been two months, so good to start with a win of course.
"We did it quite controlled, we did quite well. We're in the starting phase of this marathon. It's about not stressing, to relax and to focus on ourselves.
"At half time we planned exactly what to do in the second half. We could have scored more. It's a good start being the first game of the season.
"I just have to keep on working, keep on relaxing and keep on not thinking too much. To not focus on negative things and it was a great goal [first goal].
"Then Julian [Alvarez] got a lot of space. So I knew if I got the ball I had to shoot. I was thinking I had to finish it if I got it and I did it quite well. It's a good finish [second goal]."
Haaland also expressed his delight to work under manager Pep Guardiola, adding: "Everyone has been seeing that I am developing. I try my best every day. It's a pleasure working with Pep. I don't think there's anyone better to be working with as a young player.
"I have to keep developing and enjoy the chaos around me and keep doing what I do on the pitch. People forget fast that we are treble winners. We have to chase things again I guess."
Man City will now turn their attention to the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla on Wednesday, and they are set to be without Kevin De Bruyne as Guardiola has confirmed that the playmaker "will be out for a while" after he limped off with a hamstring injury against Burnley. body check tags ::
