Erling Haaland (L) produced a five-star display as Manchester City blitzed RB Leipzig 7-0

THE NOTEBOOK: Five-goal Erling Haaland smashes 94-year-old Man City record, while another positional tweak for Bernardo Silva works wonders… and could Aymeric Laporte be heading for the exit after Pep Guardiola’s latest snub?

  • Manchester City thrashed RB Leipzig 7-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday
  • Haaland hit five goals past the German club to break yet another scoring record
  • Guardiola switching Silva to the flanks proved a masterstroke from the City boss 

Erling Haaland produced a five-star display as Manchester City blitzed RB Leipzig by seven goals to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

After a 1-1 draw in last month’s first leg, City thought they would have their work cut out when Leipzig arrived for the Etihad decider on Tuesday night.

In the end that proved far from the case, as a first-half hat-trick from Haaland blew the German club out of the water by the interval, before he added another two while Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne got on the scoresheet after the break in a 7-0 thrashing.

Here, Sportsmail’s JACK GAUGHAN takes a look at some things you may have missed from the game.

Erling Haaland (L) produced a five-star display as Manchester City blitzed RB Leipzig 7-0

Erling Haaland (L) produced a five-star display as Manchester City blitzed RB Leipzig 7-0

Haaland set another record for Man City

Haaland set another record for Man City

Relentless Haaland smashes another record

Alfie Haaland was banging on the Etihad’s corporate windows by the time Erling Haaland had slammed in his fifth of the night. 

More history for Haaland. Does the guy ever get bored? 

He surpassed City’s all-time record for goals in a single season, set by Tommy Johnson in 1929. Johnson’s haul was 38 and he has a street named after him in Manchester. 

Haaland could potentially have 19 more games left this term if City get to a couple of finals. A scary thought.

Leipzig fans fail to drum up support 

RB Leipzig’s drum was acquainting itself with Manchester city centre throughout the afternoon, beating a rhythm in Piccadilly Gardens and as the travelling supporters marched to the Etihad Stadium. But its journey finished at the front doors, with home security not allowing it inside, which must have been a blow for the drum’s owner given Lufthansa’s extra baggage fees. 

There was briefly some tension between stewards and the away fans, a short confrontation after they were told that the drum had to remain outside. Extra response was called to make sure that the episode did not escalate further. To add insult, City’s mascot wandered around with his own drum.

Obrenovic a welcome distraction for Vincic

A mesmerising performance by fourth official Rade Obrenovic, the like of which we won’t see again for some time. Constantly up and down the touchline, about 30 yards either side of the technical areas, and almost encroaching on the pitch when free kicks were taken in the final third. Never sat down either. 

Anything to divert attention from the dismal display of referee Slavko Vincic…

There was a mesmerising performance by fourth official Rade Obrenovic (L) on the night

There was a mesmerising performance by fourth official Rade Obrenovic (L) on the night

Pep’s snub for Laporte causes a stir 

The sight of Aymeric Laporte on the bench caused quite a stir

The sight of Aymeric Laporte on the bench caused quite a stir

Central defenders never normally offer an intriguing subplot to a Champions League knockout tie and yet the sight of Aymeric Laporte sat on the bench again provided one. 

Guardiola started four centre halves in consecutive games and Laporte was not one of them for either. In fact, he’s only started two of the last 11 in all competitions. 

Laporte could be one who departs in the summer, with City admirers of Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol. 

Quite whether City fancy stumping up the £115million asking price for the Croatian is another matter, with midfield their main focus ahead of next season.

Silva tweak works wonders 

Bernardo Silva is not often deployed as a right winger these days. He flourished there a few years back but Guardiola prefers the little man alongside Rodri now. But operating on the flank worked a treat here, in a game they were desperate to control. 

Silva’s tenacious pressing forced Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich into conceding a needless corner that resulted in the opening goal.

Pep Guardiola's decision to shift Bernardo Silva onto the flanks worked wonders in the game

Pep Guardiola’s decision to shift Bernardo Silva onto the flanks worked wonders in the game

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