Haaland limps off as City beat Ipswich, raising doubts over Champions League fitness

Erling Haaland scored twice but left the pitch hobbling in the closing minutes of Manchester City’s 3-2 Premier League win over Ipswich Town on Saturday, casting doubt over his fitness ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League group-stage match against AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium.

The Norwegian striker, whose brace took his season tally to 12 goals in all competitions, appeared to tire visibly as the game entered its final quarter. Manager Enzo Maresca opted against withdrawing him during a triple substitution at 3-1, and Haaland remained on the pitch long enough to have a potential hat-trick disallowed by VAR for an offside in the build-up involving Enzo Fernandez.

Maresca offered cautious optimism after the final whistle. “I asked him and he said he was okay so hopefully it is nothing serious,” the City head coach said. “We will see. I don’t have any news at the moment.”

Haaland was not the only concern to emerge from the afternoon. Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Nico O’Reilly were all substituted during the match with apparent issues, while substitute Antoine Semenyo also walked gingerly from the pitch at full-time — leaving Maresca to assess the fitness of five players ahead of a busy midweek fixture.

The win extended City’s perfect Premier League start to seven victories from seven, but the cluster of injury scares threatens to complicate Maresca’s squad management as the fixture schedule intensifies. Whether Haaland is fully fit or not, the visit of AEK Athens presents a potential opportunity to protect the striker ahead of more demanding tests to come.