Manchester City vs Burnley – Football Match Report – 18 Mar 2023

The unstoppable Erling Haaland broke the 40-goal mark in his first season at Manchester City with a hat-trick in his side’s 6-0 FA Cup quarter-finals win over Burnley on Saturday.

After his five-goal salvo against RB Leipzig in midweek, the Norwegian striker once again proved insatiable to demolish the leaders at the Etihad Stadium.

The 22-year-old scored striking goals in the 32nd and 35th minutes and completed his sixth hat-trick of the season when he converted a rebound just before the hour to end the tie.

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He now has a staggering 42 goals for City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in June.

Julian Alvarez then struck twice with a goal from substitute Cole Palmer in between as City raged to make it to the semis on 13 goals in the week.

It was a sobering day for former City hero Vincent Kompany, who has guided Burnley to the brink of a quick Premier League return after being relegated last year.

Haaland is only the sixth player in the Premier League era to have scored at least 40 goals in a season in all competitions – alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy (44), Mohamed Salah (44), Cristiano Ronaldo (42), Andy Cole (41 ) and Harry Kane (41).

And with City still in three competitions, it certainly won’t be long before he goes past 50.

“He could score 50 goals, maybe even 60. It’s crazy,” Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer told the BBC’s Match of the Day Live studio.

“Haaland is a beast. He’s a scoring machine. He lives and breathes goals.”

Haaland has been more reticent about his extraordinary stats.

“It’s been a couple of good last games,” a reluctant Haaland, who scored his first FA Cup goals, told BBC Sport. “7-0 and 6-0 before the international break are impressive and I’m really happy.

“Every goal means a lot to me and every goal means a lot to the team.”

Burnley had actually gotten along well with City in the first half hour and had created some decent chances.

But when Haaland raced to Alvarez’s through ball and touched the ball past Burnley’s oncoming Bailey Peacock-Farrell to break the deadlock, the writing was on the wall.

Phil Foden’s low cross set up Haaland’s second goal and his hat-trick goal came after Foden’s shot hit the post.

Alvarez also impressed, scoring brilliantly, while youngster Palmer’s goal made it a hugely satisfying day for a City side suddenly on their best days.

The other three FA Cup sixth round ties take place on Sunday: Manchester United at home against Fulham, Sheffield United host Blackburn Rovers and Brighton and Hove Albion host fourth tier side Grimsby Town.