In order to HALT Erling Haaland, you must match his movements and exercise patience.

Erling Haaland has scored 22 goals for club and nation in all competitions, and in his last 12 games, no coach has been able to stop him. Pep Guardiola, who is most aware of the Norwegian’s abilities, joked that “four center-backs” would be a good way to keep him out. Since so many people have tried and failed, there are no simple answers.

Aston Villa and Unai Emery will have to come up with a plan to keep Haaland quiet on Sunday. Not playing for much of a game doesn’t seem to bother the Manchester City player all that much. Though rare, his touches are frequently telling. Generally speaking, the goal against Haaland is to keep the ball from getting to him, but it is difficult given City’s variety of creative players.

Inside the box, Haaland comes to life. His movement and ability to predict where the ball will go make it impossible to defend against him. He predicted where Rico Lewis would cross the ball, beat the center-back, and turn it in to give City the lead in their 2-0 victory over Villarreal on Tuesday.

Ian Burchnall, who was the assistant coach at Molineux when Wolves defeated City 2-1 in September 2023, remembers how they limited Haaland to a single, saved attempt. According to Burchnall, “The only time we were successful was when Craig Dawson was physically man-marking him inside the box and up against him.” Haaland doesn’t tolerate many touches; therefore, Dawson did a fantastic job. Since they rarely ever play against a low block, he is incredibly patient as a forward. Haaland is rarely touched; therefore, it’s amazing how patient and focused he is to move inside the box. Someone who can match that within the box is essential.

How Haaland compares with Europe’s other top-scoring forwards this season in club games

Haaland is constantly trying his hardest to occupy defenders while he waits for his opportunity to attack, so it’s not like he comes and goes from games. Because he is not involved, it can give opponents a false sense of security and make them feel superior. His 11 Premier League goals so far this season have equaled or exceeded the totals of 12 of the other 19 teams in the division before to this weekend’s games.

Niklas Moisander, a former Werder Bremen defender who played Haaland three times, says, “We did have quite a good picture of him and the preparation was mostly that no one can stop him individually, so it must be a team effort.” “How to stop him was a major component of the plan, but it was mostly a team effort rather than an individual one. Being small and constantly having assistance, whether he had the ball or in the box was the major strategy. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to play against the greatest players of my generation, including Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Staying high and leading counters or chasing balls over the top is one of Haaland’s primary responsibilities. He can sprint in behind or hold up the ball. Moisander explains that it was really about reading the game, predicting, and avoiding instances where I would go up against him one-on-one because I wouldn’t have had any chance. “You cannot afford anything when playing against the best because a small error or a half-second lateness can result in a goal.” That was how he made you feel. You could have the sensation of ‘Oh, we played fairly well against him’ – but then he had one goal or two at the conclusion of the game.”

In the role of a No 9, Haaland’s strength and speed clearly distinguish him, possibly enhanced by the maple syrup he apparently adds to his coffee. It seems nearly impossible to replicate his level of performance. Julián Alvarez is considered one of the top strikers globally, yet he couldn’t compete with Haaland for a place in the starting lineup and had to depart from City. On the international stage, Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen are top-tier forwards, but they are unable to displace their fellow countryman.

It’s extremely challenging, but if you can cut off his supplies, that’s beneficial,” Burchnall states. “You can’t just double up on him because doing that creates openings for other players inside the area. We found it incredibly difficult to manage him due to his wide range of skills. He excels in aerial challenges and is capable of finishing with either foot.

Bernardo Silva’s goal with a header against Villarreal highlighted the risks of concentrating too much on Haaland, as the 1. 73m (5ft 8in) midfielder was given the freedom to find space and score uncontested from a short distance.