Manchester City made it a record-breaking 26 games unbeaten in the Champions League, surpassing their rivals Manchester United’s previous mark of 25 unbeaten matches under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2007 and 2009. The Blues’ latest victory camecourtesy of a 5-0 thrashing of Sparta Prague at the Etihad Stadium.
The team showed no signs of rust after coming off a 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday, with Phil Foden, John Stones, Matheus Nunes, and an Erling Haaland brace the scorers. The Cityzens dominated possession, with the visitors content to employ a defensive strategy and stifle the hosts’ attacks.
Foden, one of the player brought into the side, fired the ball into the far corner of the net just three minutes into the game, setting the tone for the match. Haaland had a few early chances, but wasn’t able to score until his stunning backheel in the 58th minute, his 43rd Champions League goal.
The Norwegian’s strike gave the hosts a lift, and they began to pour forward, resulting in Stones and Haaland adding to the scoreline. The match ended in a convincing 5-0 win for Manchester City, with Smrita Prague unable to withstand the resulting onslaught.
The result also extended Manchester City’s unbeaten run in the Champions League, now surpassing Manchester United’s record. The four UK Prime Ministers since City’s last defeat in normal time in Europe, dating back to September 2022, have been aware of the team’s invincibility. As for Haaland, he’s shown no signs of slowing down, with his 43 goals in 42 Champions League matches.