For a moment, let’s put aside Erling Haaland’s second-half brilliance. Forget the unstoppable Norwegian showcasing his incredible finishing ability, and set aside Manchester City once again flexing their attacking dominance.
Instead, focus on what may have been the most important moment in this commanding win over their European opponents—it came in the opening three minutes. Amid recent questions about Phil Foden’s form and his limited starts for both England and City, there was something to prove. Foden, who had endured a frustrating summer at the European Championship and a lackluster start to the 2024/25 season, has found himself in unfamiliar territory.
But as the old saying goes, form is temporary, class is permanent—and Foden has class in abundance. That class was on full display just minutes into the game. His body positioning was flawless as he received a pass from Manuel Akanji, his footwork swift as he drove into the box, and his left-footed strike was the perfect blend of power and precision. It set the tone for what would become a one-sided affair, a reminder of why the Champions League group stages often lack suspense until the knockouts.
In what seemed like a subtle statement, Guardiola named only seven players on the bench (compared to Sparta Prague’s full squad of 12), two of whom were goalkeepers. Whether all of City’s absentees were truly unfit is unclear, but this format of the Champions League has allowed managers like Guardiola to rotate their squad early in the tournament.
One player who wasn’t getting any rest was Haaland. Despite not scoring in his previous few outings—by his standards, a drought—Guardiola evidently believes that keeping Haaland active is the best way to keep him sharp. While his first-half was relatively quiet, save for a spectacular save from Sparta’s Peter Vandal that denied a header, Haaland never stopped searching for a way to break through the deep defensive line set up to frustrate him.
He found that breakthrough just before the hour mark with a goal that was as acrobatic as it was audacious. Savinho provided the assist, but even he couldn’t have expected Haaland’s martial arts-like leap and no-look, outside-of-the-boot finish. From that point on, the floodgates opened. John Stones added another header—his second in four days—and Haaland soon claimed his 13th goal of the season with a more straightforward finish.
A hat-trick seemed within reach, but Guardiola opted to give Haaland a rest, leaving Matheus Nunes to step up and convert a penalty to make it 5-0. By then, City had made all five substitutions, the game was firmly in their control, and Haaland was all smiles, wrapped up in his padded coat.
Yet, perhaps the biggest smile of all belonged to Phil Foden, a player who reminded everyone exactly why he’s still one of the brightest talents at City.
