Erling Haaland stars but Kevin De Bruyne injury sours Man City win at Burnley

Manchester City picked up where they left off last season with a routine 3-0 win at Burnley on Friday night – but their victory came at a cost as key man Kevin De Bruyne sustained another injury.

Erling Haaland scored two fine first-half goals, but in between those strikes, De Bruyne left the action with what manager Pep Guardiola said was a recurrence of the hamstring problem he suffered in June's Champions League final win over Inter Milan.

Rodri blasted home a third from close range midway through the second-half to seal a win that was never in doubt for the defending Premier League champions.

But Guardiola said: "[De Bruyne] was injured again, unfortunately. Same place and position as the Champions League and he will be out for a while.

"Same issue [as last season] he told me. So that is a problem. We need to go back and reflect with the medical team.

"He was feeling really good and playing really good in the first minutes. But unfortunately he is injured again. Maybe [he shouldn't have started], but what happens in the first 15 minutes could also have come in the 50th, 65th, 70th minute..."

Newly-promoted Burnley, who romped the Championship under City legend Vincent Kompany last season, tried to rally at times but were largely unable to trouble Ederson in the City goal. Their night got worse in the closing stages as Anass Zaroury was dismissed for a lunge on Kyle Walker.

Kompany said: "It's a mentality thing. Today has to be the worst we are ever going to be this season because this team is focused on progress.

"I don't know who in my squad will make it to the top level, but I know some of them will. It takes hard work every day, this squad wants to learn and progress together.

"That is the mission for us. Results