Pep Guardiola thanked his old rival Jose Mourinho after Manchester City snatched a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. To score the fourth goal.”That goal means City avoid the two-legged play-off round in February that proved their undoing last season. “When I started 16 or 17 years ago, the Champions League was a different type of competition than today. Every team is really, really, really, really, really tough. Haaland’s goal was his first from open play in 10 games but Guardiola never doubted his star striker.

Source: Irish Examiner January 29, 2026 16:21 UTC