MANCHESTER, England: Manchester City kept up the pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool with an emphatic 5-1 victory over relegation-threatened Luton on Saturday that put the defending champion back atop the English Premier League.
An early own goal from Daiki Hashioka gave City the lead at Etihad Stadium before a fierce shot by Mateo Kovacic and a penalty by Erling Haaland put the game beyond doubt after the break.
Luton earned a consolation goal through Ross Barkley in the 81st but Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol added late goals to wrap up the win, which lifted City two points above Arsenal and Liverpool.
Arsenal host Aston Villa on Sunday, when Liverpool take on Crystal Palace.
With City still in contention for a second straight treble of major trophies, manager Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to rotate his squad and left key midfielder Rodri on the bench after the Spaniard said publicly he needed a rest.
Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and John Stones also were rested ahead of Real Madrid’s visit on Wednesday in the return leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. But goalkeeper Ederson returned to replace Stefan Ortega and Kevin De Bruyne was back after an illness.
It was a bit of luck, though, that gave City the opener inside two minutes.
Haaland attempted an acrobatic volley after his initial shot was saved, but the ball was heading well wide until it took a huge deflection off Hashioka’s head and ended up in the net.
But Luton defended with great determination and the second goal didn’t come until just after the hour when Kovavic unleashed an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area following a corner.
Doku then won a penalty after being brought down in the area and Haaland calmly sent Thomas Kaminski the wrong way to register his 31st goal of the season in all competitions, but only his second in six games.
Barkley robbed Nunes to pull one back but City finished with a flourish.
Doku claimed the fourth after weaving through the area in the 87th and Gvardiol followed up his fine strike against Madrid with another stunner in stoppage time.
Haaland scores as Man City rout Luton 5-1 to go top of the Premier League
https://arab.news/zhshz
Haaland scores as Man City rout Luton 5-1 to go top of the Premier League
- Arsenal host Aston Villa on Sunday, when Liverpool take on Crystal Palace
- With City still in contention for a second straight treble of major trophies, manager Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to rotate his squad
Sorloth treble helps Atletico past Brugge into Champions League last 16
- Brugge could not keep the Norwegian target man at bay as he settled an entertaining tie with a display of lethal finishing
- After Ordonez had canceled out Sorloth’s opener, Cardoso smashed Atletico in front and Sorloth added two more goals
MADRID: Alexander Sorloth’s hat-trick fired Atletico Madrid into the Champions League last 16 with an emphatic 4-1 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday, progressing 7-4 on aggregate from the play-off round.
Brugge could not keep the Norwegian target man at bay as he settled an entertaining tie with a display of lethal finishing at the Metropolitano stadium.
After Joel Ordonez had canceled out Sorloth’s opener, Johnny Cardoso smashed Atletico in front and Sorloth added two more goals late on to seal his team’s victory.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who have never won the competition, took a few minutes to get going in the early exchanges and David Hancko blocked Hugo Vetlesen’s effort well as the visitors attempted to capitalize.
However, the Spaniards took the lead when goalkeeper Jan Oblak went route one from the back, finding Sorloth in a good position.
The powerful striker held off his marker and beat goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who handled the shot poorly and might have kept it out.
Julian Alvarez headed wide as Atletico, ascendant, looked for a second.
The Rojiblancos twice lost the lead in Belgium last week against Ivan Leko’s side and it happened again a few minutes before half-time.
Ordonez nodded home from on the goal-line after Brandon Mechele flicked on a corner into his path.
Brugge almost took the lead before the break but Oblak made a superb save to claw out Vetlesen’s header.
Instead Atletico went ahead shortly after the restart, with Cardoso hammering home from the edge of the box after the ball was cleared into his path.
Atletico nervously held the lead, aware of the visitors’ threat, until Sorloth gave them some breathing room with his second of the night.
Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann exchanged slick passes and the former cut the ball back for Sorloth to dispatch.
The forward rounded off an excellent night by volleying home Matteo Ruggeri’s cross with three minutes to go.
Sorloth, who netted twice against Espanyol on Saturday in La Liga, has 10 goals in 2026 to date, even though he is often rotated in and out of Simeone’s team.
