Haaland hits Brace As the Champions Mancity Makes Winning start.

Manchester City launched their Premier League championship defence with an easy victory at Burnley, thanks to Erling Haaland’s deadly finishing display.

The goalscoring superstar, who scored 52 goals as City won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League last season, required just 185 seconds to open his account for the new season, dealing the newly promoted Clarets a blow from which they never recovered.

When Rodri headed down Kevin de Bruyne’s cross, Haaland pounced in the area and curled in a stunning left-foot strike into the top corner beyond Burnley keeper James Trafford after 36 minutes to virtually end the game.

Burnley, spurred on by a raucous home crowd, never gave up, but City’s dominance grew more pronounced as the game progressed, with Rodri scoring the third with 15 minutes remaining after the home defenders failed to clear a free-kick.

City’s night was only soured by another injury for De Bruyne, who went off after only 23 minutes and was replaced by summer signing Mateo Kovacic.

After a video assistant referee review, Burnley had Anass Zaroury sent out in injury time for a risky lunge on Kyle Walker.