Haaland and De Bruyne shine as rotated Manchester City thrash Luton
Pep Guardiola rested several starters ahead of the Real Madrid clash
Erling Haaland found the net once again and Kevin De Bruyne made a significant contribution in Manchester City's comfortable 5-1 victory over Luton Town on Saturday.
Ahead of the showdown with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola opted to rotate and rest key players such as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodri Hernandez and Jack Grealish, ensuring they were fresh for the upcoming challenge.
Ederson returned to goal for the first time in a month, while De Bruyne played 80 minutes after recovering from stomach bug. However, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker, both nursing injuries, stayed on the bench.
Haaland opened the scoring and despite Luton's valiant efforts, Man City dominated proceedings, with Jeremy Doku delivering a standout performance.
The match saw moments of brilliance, including a stunning strike from Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol scoring for the second game in a row.
Gvardiol's goal, particularly noteworthy for its execution with his weaker right foot for yet another game, sealed a memorable victory for the Sky Blues.
Manchester City currently sit top of the Premier League table, two points above Arsenal and Liverpool, both of whom have one game in hand. The Reds host Crystal Palace and the Gunners play at home against Aston Villa on Sunday.
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