Manchester City

A quick look at the stats tells just how one-sided this match was.

Of course, Napoli having a man sent off after 20 minutes didn't help - the visitors one and only shot in the match came three minutes before that.

Manchester City had 73.8% possession, 23 shots, 14 of them from inside the box and eight on target, with three big chances created.

Despite of all that, their xG was 2.12. Not bad but given their domination, should they have done more?

Napoli defended stoutly, one goal always felt like it would be enough and once City got the second, the game was over. So was it a case of Pep Guardiola's side just being patient and biding their time or should they be concerned that they did not create more chances?

Michael Brown
Former Premier League midfielder on BBC Radio 5

Image source, Getty Images

It will be a huge week [if Man City get a result against Arsenal on Sunday].

But Pep Guardiola’s choice of team was very much on Napoli, not looking at the weekend, but he was able to make those changes late on because the game was done.

They really played well, they were patient, they moved the ball around, their recovery runs limited space and turnovers are so important to the manager because defensively they have been a little bit of a weakness there. So a real positive, two good results [after beating Manchester United] and now a huge game at the weekend.

Jeremy Doku’s looking excellent and his goal was fantastic as he stepped inside and completely passed people. Phil Foden, we missed him last season but he had a Man of the Match performance. A real positive night for Pep Guardiola.

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter

Pep Guardiola's 17th campaign as manager in this competition began with a win as City aim to make up for last season's disappointment when they failed to make the top-eight and were knocked out at the play-off stage.

City's recent form in this tournament has been poor, losing five of their past seven games before Napoli.

And they will have felt at times in this contest that they were going to be left frustrated as they saw ex-Manchester United academy man Milinkovic-Savic repel everything they threw at him.

But with Haaland in their side, City have a player who knows where the back of the net is and seems intent on proving a point, taking his tally to six goals in five club games so far this term.

His headed effort from Foden's glorious pass just before the hour mark drew relief all around the stadium.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Congrats on the 05 goals, Erling.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's Phil Foden, who assisted Erling Haaland's 50th Champions League goal, speaking to TNT Sports: "They were a nightmare team to breakdown. I thought we were pretty clever and didn't give away too many turnovers.

"The first half was a bit frustrating. I wasn't getting too many touches between the lines. Erling [Haaland] is always going to make that run. It's just about getting that connection.

"He seems to break every record going. It's unheard of what he's doing. What an unbelievable player."

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

City boss Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland's goalscoring: "What can I say? The numbers speak for itself and how lucky we are to have him. Just congratulate him.

"[Ruud] Van Nistelrooy and [Robert] Lewandowski but also the two monsters Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Lionel [Messi] in the past 20 years and Erling is there.

"In terms of goals he is unbelievable. “There’s no danger if he can play 10 more years. If he maintains this progression, absolutely [he can break the all-time record].

"It’s a question of [him] playing a lot, experience, more important goals and his mentality as well."

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Another game, another where a goalscoring record has been obliterated by Erling Haaland.

Manchester City were being frustrated by the 10 men of Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday night, but up stepped their ever-reliable talisman to send them on their way to another victory.

The Norway striker nodded in from Phil Foden's delightful pass to score his 50th goal in the competition in just 49 games - the quickest player to reach that milestone.

The rapid manner in which the 25-year-old reached his half-century is highlighted by the fact that former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy previously held the record at 62 games.

Haaland knew what he had achieved, celebrating with a grin on his face and holding up five fingers on one hand and a zero with the other towards the cameras.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal in the Champions League on Thursday evening.

It was just his 49th appearance in the competition, meaning he reaches the landmark faster than any other player - by some margin too.

He reaches the half century of goals in at least 13 appearances fewer than any other player in the competition's history, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy who did so in 62 games.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Big fan then, Stuart?

Anyway, time is ticking and we've got another striker to talk about before the first of our Premier League news conferences gets under way.

Erling Haaland. He's good at the football, isn't he?

Newcastle United

After a very tricky start to the league phase, Newcastle will hope things get that bit easier from now but in the Champions League it is never straightforward.

Here are their remaining fixtures, including a meeting with Jose Mourinho and a trip to the reigning champions...

• 1 October - Union Saint-Gilloise (a)
• 21 October - Benfica (h)
• 5 November - Athletic Club (h)
• 25 November - Marseille (a)
• 10 December - Bayer Leverkusen (a)
• 21 January - PSV (h)
• 28 January - Paris St-Germain (a)

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Woltemade scored the winning goal on his Newcastle debut against Wolves last weekend ago but found himself on the bench for over an hour against Barcelona.

The Germany international came off with cramp in the Wolves game so Eddie Howe chose not to risk him from the start on Thursday - and was not in the mood to contemplate would things might have gone differently if he'd started Woltemade.

"I can't live in that world," Howe said. "I have to make decisions for the benefit of the players sometimes.

"It was a really difficult one for Nick. Any player would want to start the game, but I have got to try and manage him into the team and try and make sure he stays fit. That was always at the heart of this decision."

Instead, it was Anthony Gordon, who is in the midst of a three-match domestic ban, recalled to play up front.

The former Everton man did score Newcastle's late consolation goal, albeit that came after he had moved out to the left following Woltemade's introduction.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

That he did, David.

But do you think things could have been different had Eddie Howe started with new striker Nick Woltemade?

Here's what the manager had to say about that decision...

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live

Seven matches to come, they're not going to be playing the Spanish champions every time.

A little bit like two years ago in the Champions League for Newcastle, there were some great memories and moments, but in the end it was good but not quite good enough. And tonight that's the case.

Champions League

Image source, Getty Images

While the night eventually ended in defeat for Newcastle, there were plenty of reasons for optimism for Eddie Howe's side.

Barcelona dominated possession as you might expect, having the ball 64.5% of the time at St James' Park, and had 19 shots to Newcastle's 10, but it was the home side who recorded the higher expected goals.

Newcastle's xG was 1.46, slightly higher than Barcelona's 1.31, and the hosts created as many big chances (2) as the Spanish champions as well.

But when the opposition forward slaps the ball in off the bar from 25 yards, there's not a whole lot you can do...