Erling Haaland is now one goal away from erasing a Cristiano Ronaldo record from the books. The Manchester City star needs that goal to reach 100 with one club faster than Ronaldo did at Real Madrid.
KANE CAN’T MISS AS BAYERN RUN RIOT
Bayern Munich clearly mean business this season. They hammered Holstein Kiel 6-1 in the Bundesliga last Saturday and three days later smashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in the Champions League.
That was 15 goals in two games. Harry Kane scored seven of them (three and four), which included four penalties. In the process he broke Erling Haaland’s record of being quickest to 50 Bundesliga goals. He took just 35 games to get there, while Haaland was kept waiting for 44 matches.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is quickly silencing the critics after suggestions that going from a relegated Burnley to Bayern was too much.
TRENDS POINT TO GOALS AT THE ETIHAD
My historical trend proved spot on last weekend with Liverpool predicted to concede at Anfield and to not win against Forest. I guffawed at the thought and went 1-1 on Superbru. It ended 1-0 to Forest. I didn’t have the courage!
This week the trend suggests that both Man City and Arsenal will concede (and therefore score) in their top of the table EPL match. That’s despite City keeping a clean sheet in the Champions League this week. Most people will probably go 2-1, but I’m taking the 2-2 draw.
Elsewhere the trends show that Aston Villa (vs Wolves) and Newcastle (vs Fulham) will keep clean sheets while Man United (vs Palace) will concede. Ultimately it’s all guesswork but that’s what makes Superbru and the EPL so engaging.
ARSENAL STAND IN WAY OF HAALAND RECORD
We simply have to keep mentioning Erling Haaland, and now Arsenal are up next.
His nine goals from the first four EPL games are more than all of the other 19 teams in the division. He has also gone past Wayne Rooney’s 2022/12 record when he hit eight goals in the first four games for Man United.
Perhaps significantly in a world, and sport, where egos run rampant, Haaland is now one goal away from erasing a Cristiano Ronaldo record from the books. Haaland needs that goal to reach 100 with one club faster than Ronaldo did at Real Madrid.
CR7 took 105 games to get there, while Arsenal will be the 104th time Haaland has pulled on the City jersey in the EPL.
YOUNG FODEN PULLING IN THE MONEY
We’ve mentioned Ronnie Foden before. He’s the lad with the nickname “The Dude”. He’s a bit of a social media sensation with 5-million Instagram followers and 800,000 disciples on TikTok and has posed in selfies with Erling Haaland. This week’s news is that he has signed a modelling contract worth “loads of money”. Good for him. He’s almost as famous as the other Foden at Man City, the 25-year-old current PFA Player of the Year. Have we mentioned that Phil is Ronnie’s dad, with the youngster yet to turn six.
TAYLOR OFF DUTY AFTER CARD FRENZY
Speaking of social media, referee Anthony Taylor has been at the receiving end of disgraceful online trolling after his handling of last week’s EPL game between Bournemouth and Chelsea. So much so that he’s been withdrawn from duty for this round.
Taylor was a bit card happy, dishing out 14 yellows – eight to Chelsea and six to Bournemouth, but remarkably no reds. It was a record number of yellow cards in an EPL game.
The previous most was in 2010 when Wolves played Newcastle. In 2016 there were again 12 when Chelsea, hmmm, clashed in every sense with fierce London rivals Tottenham.
ENDRICK HAPPY, ON AND OFF THE FIELD
A lot said it wouldn’t last but it’s already been a few weeks of marital bliss and counting. It was love at first sign when Brazilian wonderkid Endrick (18) met model Gabriely Miranda (23) less than a year ago.
They have got married and Miranda, who also regards herself as an influencer, has quoted the Bible in saying, on social media, “What God has put together no one can separate”.
Endrick recently joined Real Madrid and is considered one of the brightest prospects in world football. He showed why when coming off the bench to score for Real in their 3-1 Champions League win over Stuttgart during the week.
