Erling Haaland could be set to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning record for the least games taken to score 100 goals.
The Manchester City star is set to start in their opening Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT.
Footballing history could beckon for Haaland on Wednesday nightGetty
Haaland scored two goals in their 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday to take him to nine goals in four Premier League matches this term.
This is a new record in the English top flight, eclipsing the eight goals netted by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in the 2011/12 season.
However, Haaland is on the verge of achieving a new, incredible feat that is currently held by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
The Norwegian sits on 99 goals in 103 appearances for City and should he net against Inter, he will become the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a European club.
Ronaldo reached a century for Real Madrid in his 105th game in 2011 against Lyon, so could be pipped to the crown by just a single match.
With Haaland close to gaining the title, City boss Pep Guardiola joked that he’d be fine if the striker didn’t improve his game, as long he keeps scoring.
“He can evolve but if you tell me in the next 100 games he scores another 99 goals, for me it’s fine,” he said in his press conference via the Manchester Evening News.
“As much games as he plays in this club, he will improve naturally. I played 11 years as a professional and I scored 11 goals. This guy scored nine in four. He can equal me in one game.
“I don’t expect him to score two or three in every game, it’s not a problem if that doesn’t happen but the difference from last season is he feels good. Opponents will find a solution to control the amount of goals and we have to find a solution to beat them.
“If there are more players on him, we have to create an environment around him for another player to score. But hopefully he can continue to have a positive mindset.”
Haaland could score his 100th goal for City in just his 104th appearanceGetty
Ronaldo reached that tally in 105 matches for MadridAFP
Should Haaland score once against Inter on Wednesday night, he will tie Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero on 42 Champions League goals.
Meanwhile, two goals would see him go level with ex-Barcelona hero Neymar on 43, and three would equal that of respective Chelsea and Liverpool legends Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah with 44.
City’s home clash against Inter is their first in the new Champions League format that has been introduced this season.
Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague, Sporting Lisbon, Feyenoord and Juventus are their next five opponents before Christmas.
They will then face Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge in the new year, with a top eight finish in the new league phase taking them straight through to the last 16.
