Manchester City were scheduled to face Burnley in the English Premier League in their quest of returning to the summit of the English top-flight football, and 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning forward Julián Álvarez stepped up to fill striker sensation from Norway Erling Haaland’s boots in this league encounter, scoring a brace in the three-time defending English champions’ 3-1 victory over the Burnley side that is now managed by former club captain and one of Manchester City’s legendary players Vincent Kompany. The victory propelled Pep Guardiola’s continental treble-winning City team over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as the current second best team in the Premier League table.
Manchester City Showed Early Domination Over Burnley with Julián Álvarez’s Double and Rodri’s Strike
With the momentum of a seven-game winning streak and a 10-game invincible streak in all competitions, Manchester City did not have to wait very long to draw first blood at the Etihad. Phil Foden, playing in his 150th Premier League game and his 250th appearance for the Cityzens, unleashed Matheus Nunes into the penalty box. The Portuguese’s initial cross was blocked by the Burnley defence, but his second effort went on to find Julián Álvarez, who rose to the occasion and scored the opening goal of the game.
Shortly after his opener, Julián Álvarez doubled Manchester City’s lead in the 22nd minute, this time via another short-ranged effort. Fit-again club captain Kevin De Bruyne fooled everyone in the dangerous zone by rushing a deep freekick. The pass was then met by the 24-year-old Julián Álvarez, and the Argentine birthday boy could do no wrong with his strike, slotting home City’s second goal of the evening into the bottom left corner.
The game was pretty much done and dusted by the first few seconds of the following 45 minutes, as Spanish central defensive midfielder Rodri was there to pick up the ball from Foden around the edge of the penalty box, before he lashed a powerful shot into the Burnley goal for City’s 51st league goal in 2023/2024 thus far. The rest of the game highlights witnessed the return of mega scoring machine Haaland, who replaced De Bruyne in the final 20 minutes plus added time, as well as Ameen Al-Dakhil’s last-minute goal in the injury time, who meant nothing as City cruised to a 3-1 win over the Kompany-led Burnley for their 14th league win of the season.
Also Read: How Did Lautaro Martínez Secure Inter’s Return to Top of the Serie A with His 22nd Goal This Season?
Julián Álvarez Extended Manchester City’s Winning Streak to Eight Games in All Competitions
Julián Álvarez’s excellent showing in last night’s match against Burnley was translated into a brace, and that couple of goals were influential in leading the Cityzens to their eighth straight win in all competitions, with Guardiola’s men also now unbeaten in 11 matches in all tournaments. With the 3-1 victory over Burnley, Manchester City has closed gap on league leaders Liverpool to five points with another game in hand; The latter won their matchup in that much-anticipated 4-1 demolition over Chelsea at Anfield to remain top of the Premier League table.
For Julián Álvarez, it is worth mentioning that with the two goals he scored on his 24th birthday yesterday, Julián Álvarez has now netted 15 times and added 10 assists in those 32 games played this season thus far, meaning he is only two tallies away from reaching his best scoring season in a Manchester City shirt with less than half a season to go, having scored 17 goals and assisted five times last year. The Argentine forward has collected 93 goals in 231 games for club and country since making his professional senior career debut back in the 2018/2019 Season.
Check This Out: Fabian Schär Nets Surprising Brace as Newcastle Ends Aston Villa’s 17 Home Games Unbeaten Run
A birthday brace from Julián Álvarez, Rodri goal and Erling Haaland return ✅
A good night for Man City 👏 pic.twitter.com/C28y9aRWcz
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) January 31, 2024
Pep Happy to Be Spoilt with Choices in a Fully Fit City Team
Guardiola had this to say about the birthday boy who scored a brace for City last night Julián Álvarez. “For his age, for the numbers in the Premier League, for what he gives to all the team it is unbelievable He’s a world champion playing alongside (Lionel) Messi, (Ángel) Di María and Enzo Fernández. If you are not good you cannot play in that team. He can play in three different positions and have an incredible sense with the intensity to run. He’s really good,” said the 53-year-old Spaniard.
The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach continued on the abundant choices of his squad selection when they are all healthy and fit. He said: “They can play together. They are exceptional players. It gives me more of a headache for selection but they need to compete with each other.” He also added a few words regarding the return of striker sensation Haaland. “If it was 7-0 at half-time he would have played more minutes. If it was 0-0 maybe he wouldn’t have played a minute. It has been really good without him for the last two months but with him we are a better team and we are really pleased that he is back.”
The losing manager at Burnley and former Manchester City skipper Kompany had this response during the post-match conference between his managed team and his former playing club: “It’s never great when you lose. They’re a great side, we know that. It felt like a lot had to go our way for us to get something. In moments we were dangerous. We could’ve avoided the goals. We have to move on against Fulham (On Saturday). My job is to give the guys support in these moments and hold them accountable. But we’re playing against a team that exploits every mistake. We’re showing bits that should make us confident.”
Click here for more updates on three-time defending English Premier League champions Manchester City.
