In the goal-filled journey of Erling Haaland’s illustrious career, the reverse-flick while airborne that outfoxed Peter Vindahl while facing away from Sparta Prague’s goalkeeper stands out as a brilliant highlight. This was Manchester City’s second goal, scored in the 58th minute, and Haaland’s casual, what-did-you-expect grin perfectly captured his self-satisfaction.
Following a victory that commenced with Phil Foden’s impressive individual effort and concluded with Sparta in disarray, City now have seven points. According to Opta’s “supercomputer,” nine points should secure progression to the playoff round, and 15 points to the last 16. Pep Guardiola’s relentless team is now in full control.
On Tuesday, Guardiola mentioned that Foden “will be back soon” – meaning at his best – and he started here by gliding past three Sparta players, the last being Kaan Kairinen, and sweeping the opener into the left corner. John Stones and Manuel Akanji orchestrated the play leading to Foden’s strike. Shortly after, they were backpedaling as Sparta broke along the right, where Veljko Birmancevic had a shot blocked.
Haaland is the epitome of ruthlessness. On leaping to meet a cross from the left and heading down to Vindahl’s right, he thought he had doubled the score. The effort drew a gasp, followed by a louder cheer as the goalkeeper, reminiscent of Gordon Banks, dived to his right to scoop the ball to safety from under the bar.
Despite City’s 81% possession, Sparta’s away end was lively. The traveling fans nearly erupted when Victor Olatunji raced into enemy territory, sending a chip over Stefan Ortega, but it was too high. Guardiola, dressed in a stylish woollen turtleneck, was at his usual technical area station, demanding more goals – a second dipping Haaland header in a crowded Sparta area went close but was repelled.
The first half’s highlights included a Foden attempt that Vindahl beat out and a Savinho twist-and-unload. As the interval arrived, the Czech champions of the last two seasons had kept the deficit to one. Similar to their match against Wolves, Sparta adopted a low-block strategy, forcing City to find a way past to secure their lead.
The directive was to go more direct: Foden dropped a corner in from the right, Olatunji inadvertently flicked on, Haaland tipped the ball back from the far post, and Nathan Aké converted. However, Aké was penalized for handball, and the goal was disallowed. Guardiola’s protest to the fourth official, Andrea Colombo, highlighted his disagreement.
Guardiola is quick to note when opponents defend in a bank against his team and follows up with a line about not judging them. A second Foden corner from the same right quadrant caused chaos, and Guardiola’s shrewdness suggested a ploy to attack the flanks to breach the opposition’s aerial defense.
Savinho skipped along the right, scooped the ball high, and Haaland jumped, seeing Vindahl save again. Not so with Haaland’s next act. Savinho jogged down his corridor, pivoted, and floated the ball over. What followed was extraordinary: Haaland, back to goal, executed a flying backheeled volley that went into the turf and beyond Vindahl.
Stones was the match-winner at Wolves, and he leaped to meet a clever dink from Nunes and head in City’s third. Guardiola’s team, rampant, collected a fourth as Haaland ran in, took Nunes’s delivery, and struck a powerful – and rare – right-footed finish. The fifth was added via Nunes’s late spot kick. Even before the clocks go back, City are in formidable form.
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