The "Cyborg" is back online. After a rare and much-discussed five-game scoring drought, Erling Haaland officially found the back of the net on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during Manchester City’s high-stakes Champions League clash against Galatasaray.
It took just 11 minutes for the Norwegian to silence the doubters at the RAMS Park. Capitalizing on a pinpoint through-ball from Jeremy Doku, Haaland held off Davinson Sánchez before dinking a clinical finish over Ugurcan Çakir to give City the lead.
The "Winter Slump" Snapped
Heading into the match, Haaland had faced intense scrutiny. His only goal in January prior to tonight was a penalty against Brighton, and he had not scored from open play since before Christmas. Pep Guardiola had even benched the striker for the weekend’s win over Wolves, citing "physical and mental exhaustion."
The Drought: 5 games without a goal in all competitions (the longest of his City career).
The Response: A goal with his very first shot on target in Istanbul.
The Record Watch: With this strike, Haaland moves to 22 Champions League goals at the Etihad, trailing Sergio Agüero’s stadium record by just one.
Pep Guardiola (Live Reaction): "Never underestimate the goalscorers. They can be quiet for weeks, but they only need one second to remind you who they are. Erling needed that, and the team needed it."
The Verdict: Haaland’s goal has not only secured his confidence but has also put Manchester City in the driver's seat for a crucial top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase. With the drought broken, the rest of Europe should be officially on high alert.