Manchester City delivered a dominant second-half performance to sweep aside Sparta Prague in their Champions League clash.
Phil Foden got things started early, netting in the third minute to give Pep Guardiola’s team a flying start. However, Sparta Prague put up a spirited fight, keeping the game tight for nearly an hour. It wasn’t until Erling Haaland pulled off an incredible flying backheel that City truly broke through.
After that, the floodgates opened. Haaland added another goal, with Matheus Nunes and John Stones also getting on the scoresheet as City turned a close game into a resounding victory. The result not only boosted their confidence but also their goal difference in the group standings. Here’s a breakdown of how each player performed:
Ortega: Made a crucial save in the first half to push Birmancevic’s shot wide when Sparta looked dangerous. Solid overall. 7
Lewis: No defensive mishaps and provided some great forward runs into the opposition box. 7
Stones: A little shaky at the back at times, but all was forgiven after he netted his second header in two games. 7
Akanji: Kept things under control on the left with Ake, before shifting to the right, making it all look easy. 7
Ake: Made his first start of the season and looked calm defensively while posing a threat in Sparta’s penalty area. 7
Gundogan: Struggled with some misplaced passes early on but improved as the game progressed. 6
Nunes: A standout performance. Bright and creative on the left wing, he bagged two assists and scored a penalty he won himself. 9
Silva: Had fun slicing through the Sparta defense and linked up brilliantly with Foden and Nunes. 7
Foden: Set the tone with an early goal and kept the team pushing forward in the first half. Faded a bit later but stayed involved. 8
Savinho: Had moments of frustration for Guardiola, but his defensive work was solid, and he set up Haaland’s acrobatic goal. 7
Haaland: Sensational. His first goal, a backheel wonder, was the highlight, and he followed it up with another strike to seal the win. 9
Substitutes:
- McAtee (for Silva, 69): Contributed a few neat touches in a game already decided. 6
- Kovacic (for Gundogan, 69): Came in to keep the tempo going. 6
- Gvardiol (for Ake, 74): Did his job with ease. 6
- Dias (for Stones, 74): A similar story, no issues. 6
- O’Reilly (for Haaland, 82): A brief cameo. 6
Not used: Ederson, Carson.
Manchester City’s emphatic win puts them in a strong position, and with performances like this, they’ll be tough to stop in Europe.
