After Kevin de Bruyne's eagerly awaited return to Etihad Stadium lasted a dismal 26 minutes, Haaland took just 49 games to reach the milestone, lofting home a header in the second half to put City on their path to three points. After a stellar ten years at City, De Bruyne left in the summer. Although home fans welcomed him back, his happiness at being back where he considers "home" was fleeting.
After captain Giovanni di Lorenzo was fired for bringing down Haaland as last man, the Belgium international was sacrificed by manager Antonio Conte in the first half. City took control of the game as expected but Pep Guardiola will have been left wondering how his side did not go in ahead at half-time after peppering the Napoli goal but finding keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in inspired form.