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Unstoppable Haaland can help Man City conquer Europe again
Erling Haaland has returned in 2025-26 looking like the monster centre-forward Manchester City once signed: a physical force, clinical finisher and, increasingly, a man on a mission.
After a somewhat underwhelming campaign by his own sky-high standards in 2024-25, the Norwegian looks reborn. And if he keeps going, he could be the very spearhead of City’s renewed Champions League charge.
Last season, Haaland still delivered respectable returns – 34 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions – but for a man used to shattering records, that felt like a step off the peaks.
This term, though, he has roared back. He’s registered 19 goals and one assist in just 15 outings for City across all competitions. In the Premier League alone, he has struck 14 times in 11 matches.
Haaland’s European form has been especially brutal. He’s already netted five goals in four Champions League games, averaging an eye-watering 1.25 goals per match at this stage. That kind of ruthlessness will be vital when City face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night. It’s a clash loaded with significance: not only do City want to assert themselves at the summit of their group, but they are aiming to rekindle the European dominance they last claimed when they completed a Treble in 2023.
But Haaland’s resurgence isn’t confined to club level. On the international stage, he’s been every bit as destructive. In Norway’s World Cup qualifying campaign, he hammered in 16 goals, including a brace in a 4-1 win over Italy that sealed Norway’s spot in the 2026 tournament – their first since 1998.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
He also embarrassed Moldova with five goals in one game, then followed up with a hat-trick against Israel. Such an incredible rate of scoring underlines how Haaland is back not just as a club talisman, but as a national icon too.
What fuels this renaissance? Partly, it’s physical maturation – he’s never looked stronger, faster or more difficult to handle for defenders. But there’s also a clarity of purpose. Haaland appears hungry for redemption after a season in which the club fell short of their loftiest European ambitions. Now, more focused than ever, he is delivering again.
As City prepare to welcome Leverkusen, Haaland might just carry the weight of their continental dreams. If he continues at this pace, he could well be the fulcrum that drags them back into Europe’s elite. At 25, he has time on his side, but right now, he’s making every second count.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 5
Tuesday 25 November
- Ajax vs Benfica
- Galatasaray vs Union Saint-Gilloise
- Bodø / Glimt vs Juventus
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Chelsea vs Barcelona
- Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Marseille vs Newcastle United
- Napoli vs Qarabağ
- Slavia Prague vs Athletic Club
Wednesday 26 November
- Copenhagen vs Kairat
- Pafos vs Monaco
- Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
- Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Atalanta
- Liverpool vs PSV
- Olympiakos vs Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Sporting CP vs Club Brugge
How to watch Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
