"At Bod/Glimt, in a first Champions League outing since 1 October, the 29-year-old appeared what he is: a player still recovering after 18 months out with a serious knee injury and several related setbacks. This was only a third start since his latest return began with the second 45 minutes of the goalless draw at Sunderland on New Year's Day. Last week Rodri declared he was ready to go and said: I'm really happy to be on the pitch every single day."
"You have to go back a full month for the last time Erling Haaland netted other than from the penalty spot, with two goals at West Ham in Manchester City's 3-0 win. His sole strike in eight games since was in the 1-1 draw at Brighton on 7 January, the goal-glutton somehow failing to register even when Exeter were given a 10-1 beating in the FA Cup third round."
Rodri returned to Champions League action but looked visibly short of pre-injury sharpness after 18 months sidelined by a serious knee problem and setbacks. The outing was only his third start since resuming match play, and he struggled to influence games, culminating in two yellow cards and a sending-off against Bod/Glimt. Erling Haaland is experiencing an open-play goal drought, with his last non-penalty goals a month earlier; his only recent strike came at Brighton. Haaland maintains strong overall tallies but is underperforming in open play, prompting talk of rest or rotation for the City striker.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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