PEP GUARDIOLA was clearly worried ahead of this outing on an artificial pitch.

Yet despite a comfortable win here in Switzerland, the Manchester City boss will still have cause for concern ahead of the trip to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Erling Haaland plants his superb second goal to seal victory Credit: Rex

Haaland celebrates his latest double but the goal machine had gone five Champions League games without netting Credit: Rex

Manuel Akanji arrived perfectly for the Man City breakthroughCredit: EPA

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Once again, City scored three goals without playing that well.

Erling Haaland had not scored for five Champions League matches but grabbed a couple inside 17 minutes to ease the nerves.

Until he struck, the scores were level at 1-1 and City, as they have done a few times this season, were making life hard for themselves.

As their manager accepts, they have yet to overcome their treble-winning hangover and here was another example.

Manuel Akanji scored only his second goal for the club at the start of the second half and in previous seasons, City would demolish the opposition.

Yet Guardiola’s team were caught out when Meschack Elia levelled with a stunning lob.

But this is City all over, right now. They are still playing okay and are creating plenty but they are making too many, silly mistakes.

And it is exactly why the Premier League title race could be completely different to last season as City are clearly not their usual selves.

With United full of beans after their dramatic win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, Sunday’s derby will be a hugely difficult game.

One plus point for Guardiola was a much better performance from Jack Grealish.

He has struggled since missing a month with a dead leg  but this was, without doubt, the England international’s best run-out of the season.

Particularly in the first half, he was at the heart of everything and realising he was City’s most effective player, the home crowd started jeering him.

Making a difficult pass look easy, he created a good chance for Jeremy Doku but he delivered an embarrassingly weak shot at keeper Anthony Racioppi.

The 1,800 travelling City fans were expecting Doku to bury the ball into the corner so little wonder he placed his head in his hands.

Haaland put City back in front with his first goal – from the spot Credit: Rex

Meschack Elia lobbed a brilliant but temporary leveller for Young Boys Credit: Reuters

Grealish teed up Haaland for another good chance but he produced an acrobatic effort which bounced onto the plastic surface and into the grateful arms of Racioppi.

And Grealish then saw his shot spilled by Racioppi while it ricocheted off Nunes and was cleared off the line by Loris Benito.

Guardiola was getting restless on the touchline. He was furious with Mateo Kovacic whose lazy pass sparked a Young Boys attack which saw Cedric Itten given a clear run on goal but his tame shot failed to trouble Ederson.

On the balance of play, City deserved to be ahead and Swiss international Akanji, back on home soil, grabbed only his second goal for the club.

Kovacic’s header was pushed onto the bar by Racioppi but Akanji reacted first and stuck out a leg.

After an effort from Haaland, Young Boys launched a swift counter attack with Cheikh Niasse launching a long pass to Congolese international Elia. About 22 yards out, with Ederson having rushed towards the end of the area, Elia tried the riskiest of lobs and the ball seemed to take an age before dropping into the net to the delight of the noisy fans at the Wankdorf Stadium.

City had to defend for a bit until Rodri was fouled by Camara – although it was a soft penalty – and Haaland was never going to miss from the spot.

Sub Alvarez thought he had made it 3-1 but VAR spotted a handball from Grealish. Danish ref Morten Krogh was called over to the screen and he agreed that it was a foul.

Yet City finally moved up a gear and ended any Young Boys hopes of snatching a point.  Haaland delivered a fabulous strike with his right foot which he curled into the top corner.

And against their rivals this weekend, City will need Haaland – along with Grealish – to be at their very best.