Manchester City secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten streak in this season’s Champions League. Erling Haaland was the standout performer, netting two goals, including a remarkable back-heeled strike.
Phil Foden, John Stones, and Matheus Nunes also found the back of the net for Pep Guardiola’s side, who now sit third in their Champions League group with seven points from three matches. Sparta Prague, meanwhile, remain on four points.
Haaland’s first goal brought the Etihad Stadium to life in the 58th minute when he executed a stunning backheel finish from Savinho’s cross, leaping into the air to guide the ball home. His second came ten minutes later, a clinical finish from another Savinho assist, taking his Champions League tally to 44 goals in just 42 appearances.
Nunes, clearly in awe, praised Haaland’s effort. “What an amazing goal,” he told TNT Sports. “I was speechless. Seeing it live was unbelievable.”
With his two goals, Haaland equaled Didier Drogba’s record of 44 goals in the Champions League, though Drogba reached that mark in 92 games compared to Haaland’s 42.
City took the lead early, with Foden opening the scoring in the third minute after receiving a precise pass from Manuel Akanji and firing into the bottom corner. Stones added a fourth in the 64th minute, heading in Nunes’ perfectly delivered cross.
Nunes capped off City’s dominant display with a penalty in the 88th minute, awarded after Angelo Preciado fouled in the box. The Portuguese midfielder calmly slotted his shot past Sparta’s goalkeeper, Peter Vindahl Jensen.
Though Sparta had a few moments on the counter-attack in the first half, they were overwhelmed by City’s relentless pressure, with the Premier League champions recording 22 shots, 10 on target, to Sparta’s five.
“We played against the best team in the world,” admitted Sparta Prague manager Lars Friis. “We handled Haaland well, and then he scored a goal like that.”
Manchester City, who previously drew 0-0 with Inter Milan and thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0, will next face Sporting in the new 36-team Champions League group stage. The top eight teams will automatically advance to the last 16.
