Striker Erling Haaland has yet to score or assist in four matches against Real Madrid, leading up to the two-legged play-off in the 2024-2025 Champions League season.
Haaland did not face Real Madrid during his time with RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund. It wasn’t until the semi-finals of the 2022-2023 Champions League, while playing for Manchester City, that the Norwegian forward encountered the Spanish giants for the first time.
Erling Haaland heads the ball during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Man City and Real Madrid. Photo: AS
In those two matches, Haaland played the full 90 minutes both times, with Manchester City drawing 1-1 in the first leg at Madrid and winning 4-0 in the return leg at home. Over the course of these two games, the Norwegian forward touched the ball 40 times, took seven shots, with five on target, but failed to score or assist.
In the first leg, the 24-year-old striker received a disappointing rating of 3, the lowest of the match. In the return leg, Julian Alvarez replaced Haaland in the 90th minute and scored a goal in stoppage time to seal the victory.
Erling Haaland in action during the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid at Etihad on April 17, 2024. Photo: Reuters
A year later, Man City faced Real Madrid again in the Champions League quarter-finals. Haaland started both matches, with City drawing 3-3 at the Bernabeu and 1-1 at Etihad.
In the return leg, Alvarez again replaced Haaland in the 90th minute but did not score. With an aggregate score of 4-4, the two teams went to a penalty shootout, where Real Madrid triumphed 4-3. In these two matches, Haaland’s performance was even less impressive, touching the ball 37 times, taking six shots, with only two on target.
This season, Haaland is expected to break his streak against Real Madrid during the play-off round, especially given the Royal Club’s current injury crisis. They are set to miss their four best defenders: Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Lucas Vazquez.
Real Madrid’s squad list for the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Man City. Photo: Real Madrid
According to talkSPORT, coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to rely on a makeshift defense, with Fran Garcia playing left-back, Aurelien Tchouameni dropping to center-back alongside youth team player Raul Asencio, and Federico Valverde filling in at right-back instead of his usual central midfield position.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the first leg at Etihad, center-back Ruben Dias stated, “This is a match between Man City and Real Madrid, not just Haaland versus Kylian Mbappe. However, Haaland is very eager to perform.”