Bundesliga
Ever-improving Erling Haaland adding headed goals to his game
Borussia Dortmund head coach Marco Rose and defender Mats Hummels have warned opposition teams to brace themselves for an ever better Erling Haaland, capable of scoring for fun with his feet - and head.
Haaland has scored 11 times in eight games so far this season, using his head twice. Pre-2021/22, only two of 57 efforts in 59 Dortmund appearances were headers.
"Erling has a really clean heading technique," commented Rose after Haaland scored a headed goal for the second Bundesliga game in a row, in the Matchday 5 win over Union Berlin. "If that becomes a new string to his bow, then good luck to all the other teams that we still have to play."
Watch: Erling Haaland scored twice against Union Berlin
A new and improved Haaland is a frightening prospect, but in keeping with a player known as much for his winning drive as his ice-cold finishing ability.
"Erling has a lot of strengths, but he really works on his weaknesses," revealed Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.
"He's practising headers a lot. Now you're seeing the results. He's improved he's heading game so much that he can definitely score 10 more goals a season."
If Hummels' prognosis is accurate, Haaland could be on for a 50-goal campaign. He finished the second half of 2019/20 on 16 goals, before striking 41 times in all competitions last term, including a tournament leading 10 in the UEFA Champions League.
In the early part of 2021/22, he's claimed the August Player of the Month award, and sits joint-top of the Bundesliga and pan-European scoring charts alongside Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski on seven and 11 goals respectively. Beware of Haaland indeed...