TAKE A BERNA SON!
Foden: It was one of the best goals I’ve scored in one of the best stadiums in the world... I’ve ticked it off the bucket list now
PHIL FODEN has revealed his delight at scoring his sensational goal “in one of the best stadiums” in the world.
Foden’s brilliant season moved up another notch as he drew Manchester City level at 2-2 at the Bernabeu with his superb strike.
He continued his goalscoring heroics this season with another majestic, curling left-footed finish into the top corner, to increase his careerbest tally this season to 22. “It’s one of the best goals I’ve scored,” said Foden. “I always have this special ability in and around the box, where I see myself scoring a lot of goals – it’s one of those you practise on the training ground after training.
“When I received it on the edge of the box, I thought, ‘Why not try it?’ and I made good contact. When it went in and in the top corner, I was delighted.
“It’s one of the best feelings – to score in one of the best stadiums in the world, I can say I’ve ticked it off the bucket list now. I seem to be in good scoring form this year. When you’re scoring, your confidence is really high.
“Playing a little bit more centrally and in front of goal as well, I put it down to my determination and wanting to score goals.
“I always believe – no matter what – I’m going to get a chance in the game and hopefully I can put them away.”
His goal came on a night when City proved they are not reliant on Erling Haaland for goals as they step up their push for a historic repeat of last season’s Treble triumph.
Haaland (right), who scored 52 goals in 53 games last season, has found the net just once in the last month – a veritable drought given his scoring record.
But that has done nothing to halt manager Pep Guardiola’s imperious side.
Tuesday’s epic 3-3 Champions League draw away to Real Madrid underlined City’s sublime scoring prowess, with all three goals breathtaking in their inception and execution.
Bernardo Silva’s quick-thinking and technical expertise saw him give City an early lead with a cleverly-taken free-kick,
which caught out Real’s static goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
But after Foden’s goal, City were not finished, with defender Josko Gvardiol overcoming a poor first touch to find the net with an arrow-like finish for his first goal for the Blues since joining last summer to put the visitors 3-2 ahead.
Yet Real were not to be outdone in terms of scoring spectacular goals. While there was an element of fortune about their opener, taking a deflection off Ruben Dias, their second and third were sumptuous.
Rodrygo ran half the length of the pitch before applying a
clinical finish, while Federico Valverde produced a stunning volleyed strike 11 minutes from time to earn Real a draw.
City have underlined just why they remain the team to beat at home and abroad with a series of memorable goals in recent weeks, with Foden in particular stepping up.
The England midfielder scored a stunning hat-trick – his second of the season – in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa last week, after Rodri had opened the scoring at the Etihad.
At Crystal Palace last weekend, Kevin De Bruyne – forced to miss the Real game after
being taken ill – scored twice, including a whipped angled strike in a 4-2 win.
Haaland managed to get on the scoresheet after clever build-up play involving Jack Grealish and De Bruyne, with the latter claiming his second of the game after another incisive passing move.
Given City are scoring with such aplomb, it seems an anomaly that
Premier League leaders Arsenal have a superior goal difference of 11 over them, which could prove crucial in the title race.