Spring is coming, the decisive matches with it, and Erling Haaland is in great shape.
This is the message sent to the rest of Europe by the Norwegian cyborg during this 5th round match of the FA Cup won Tuesday evening by Manchester City against Luton (6-2), 18th in the Premier League.
The Skyblues striker scattered the defense of the small club in 58 minutes with an almost insolent quintuple with ease.
Scorer from the 3rd minute, Haaland did it again a quarter of an hour later to (already) ensure the Citizens' qualification.
With, each time, his teammate Kevin de Bruyne providing the decisive pass.
A duo which is already making all defenses in Europe shiver as the quarter-finals of the Champions League soon loom, which the English champions will almost certainly meet again after their victory in the round of 16 first leg against Copenhagen.
First class movement in the box 🙌@ErlingHaaland bags an early goal for @ManCity ⚡️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/tvrtzy4GGF
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
You just can't stop @ErlingHaaland in these kinds of areas 💪
The Norwegian is running riot for @ManCity 🇳🇴#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yhIzLz229j
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
Before half-time, the hat-trick was concluded for the two men, with a new offering from the Belgian.
3️⃣ @ErlingHaaland goals ⚽
3️⃣ @KevinDeBruyne assists 🅰️
They've been 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 for @ManCity.#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/aggMfsuZhj
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
Returning from the locker room, Haaland does not stop, facing one of the worst defenses in the Premier League.
Neither does Kevin de Bruyne.
Fourth assist for the Belgian and quadruple for Haaland.
This is vintage @ManCity 🤌
It's another @ErlingHaaland goal... and another @KevinDeBruyne assist 😉#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/RMRRl3tipN
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
And it is finally Bernardo Silva who offers the Norwegian striker the ball of the quintuplet.
FIVE.@ErlingHaaland scores his fifth goal for @ManCity tonight 🤯
This man is on another level.#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/PaVVth50Wl
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
This is not the first time that Haaland has scored a quintuple, since he had already achieved this feat last March against Leipzig in the Champions League.
And if he is not as prolific as last season, in particular due to an injury which sidelined him from the field between December and January, Erling Haaland still scored, with these five, 27 goals in 2023 -2024.