MANCHESTER CITY’S Jolly Green Giant was head and shoulders above the rest once again.
Their 6ft 5in forward Erling Haaland always seems to be smiling these days – and no wonder.
He was on the mark here for a 12th consecutive game for club and county as he helped find a cure for his team’s European travel sickness.
Pep Guardiola’s team wore their new ‘dark forest’ fourth kit for the first time here – and it obviously suits the Norwegian.
He is certainly making other clubs around Europe green with envy that he belongs to City and not them with his goal-scoring exploits.
Skipper Bernardo Silva was also on the mark at the end of the first half as Villarreal – known as the Yellow Submarine – were well and truly sunk.
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That’s nine unbeaten now in all competitions – Pep’s men are coming to the boil nicely.
It was almost 13 months ago when City last won a Champions League tie on the road – and that came against Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava.
Since then they have lost four and drawn one which is not really a record befitting of a team who were the kings of Europe just two and a half years ago.
Marcelino’s Villarreal currently sit third in their domestic league so this was no easy task to put the record straight – but they began in confident fashion.
Haaland unselfishly laid off to Savinho when he could have shot and his cross found Jeremy Doku but the Belgian’s shot lacked power.
The Norwegian then got on the end of Bernardo’s cross from the left but directed his header high and wide.
Only three minutes had gone and the visitors could have been two up – so the only surprise really was it took them until the 17th to take the lead.
Some patient build up play down the right hand side between Stones and Savinho before the Brazilian slipped a pass in to Rico Lewis.
His low cross was turned in at the near post emphatically by Haaland who had peeled off Juan Foyth to score his customary goal.
That’s 15 in all competitions for City already for the big guy – and we haven’t even reached the end of October yet.
And by bagging a goal in 12 straight games, he has also equalled the best equivalent run of legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The finish adds a bit of spice to his appearance against Aston Villa on Sunday, when he can better the Portuguese star.
It was a nice moment for England international Lewis too – his selection as a midfielder had raised a few eyebrows but he justified his selection with a lively showing.
Guardiola had called on other players to chip in with goals to take some of the burden off Haaland.
And it was his new captain Silva who answered the call – powering in a close range header after a super cross from the right by Savinho.
The Portuguese international found the net in the competition for the first time since April 2024.
No doubt Guardiola was wary of what happened three weeks ago in Monaco when his team conceded a late penalty to chuck away two points.
So he would have fancied a third goal to finish this one off and it nearly came when Savinho’s shot was well saved by home keeper Luiz Junior.
The sight of Nico Gonzalez hobbling off early in the second half was not what the City boss wanted to see.
His midfield linchpin Rodri – who was presented with an award by his former club in recognition of his Ballon D’Or success – is already sidelined.
The departure of Nico gave the home side some hope and Gigio Donnarumma had to make a flying save to keep out Pape Gueye’s shot.
Former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe also directed a header just wide as they went for broke – while Renato Veiga nodded one against the post late on.
But of course that left gaps at the other end and Haaland tried to exploit them – twice bringing smart saves out of Luiz Junior.
So it’s ONLY 24 goals in 14 games for club and country this season. It sounds crazy but he will almost certainly feel he could have had more.
Pep praised Silva’s headed finishing following the match, and even compared him to one of the best players to ever play the game.
He said: “Bernardo is a bit like Messi when he heads it – it’s like a hammer when he heads it he’s so good with the head contact.”
Silva continues to prove his worth to the team with his output, but is in contract limbo for the moment.
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The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, and despite his claims that he knows what he will do, his manager remains in the dark.
Guardiola added: “He didn’t tell me. He is my captain and I love him so much but he didn’t tell me.”
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