Manchester City set a new record for the longest unbeaten run in Champions League history by beating Sparta Prague 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
The 2023 winners – who simultaneously surpassed Real Madrid’s 32-game unbeaten home run on Wednesday – barely got out of third gear as their cantered to a routine victory thanks to goals from Phil Foden, Erling Haaland (2), John Stones and Mateus Nunes.
Foden looked back to his majestic best – and in good time too, with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku both sidelined – cutting inside to sweep a low strike beyond Peter Vindahl within the first three minutes.
Haaland has scored 44 Champions League goals in 42 appearances
The Sparta goalkeeper denied Haaland’s attempts to double City’s lead, rebuffing a pair of headers, but could do nothing about an audaciously instinctive effort midway through the second period.
In typically efficient fashion, having been involved in very little of the play, Haaland connected acrobatically with Savinho’s cross, and in turn, prised open the floodgates.
John Stones has found the net three times already this season
Stones was next in line, arrowing a fine header to score his third of the season, and just four minutes later, Rico Lewis was feeding Haaland to bend a strike inside the far post. Nunes rounded off a perfect night by tucking home a cool penalty.
City’s only defeat in the Champions League during their long unbeaten run came in a penalty shoot-out against Real in last season’s quarter-finals, having drawn both legs.
