Manchester City demolished Sparta Prague 5-0 in their third game of the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
A brace from Erling Haaland accompanied by goals from Phil Foden, John Stones and Matheus Nunes meant Manchester City put in one of their best performances of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s men were largely restricted in the first half despite leading 1-0.
But an onslaught followed in the second half at the Etihad Stadium as the hosts ran riot and dispatched four goals.
City put in a real statement display while also keeping their third successive clean sheet in the Champions League this campaign.
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Stefan Ortega- 6/10
Stefan Ortega made a crucial save to help Manchester City maintain their 1-0 lead in the first half. However, for much of the game, the German’s terrific shotstopping ability was not tested.
Rico Lewis- 7/10
Rico Lewis put in yet another solid performance in a City shirt against Sparta Prague where he did not do much wrong — being solid defensively, picking up smart positions and finding Savinho’s runs in behind with a couple of lovely passes.
Lewis’ touch to get away from his man in the build-up to Haaland’s second goal was sublime and one of some other moments where his tidy technique was on display. The 19-year-old suffered a scare in the second half after his misplaced pass put Victor Olatunji threat on goal before his touch let him down.
John Stones- 7/10
John Stones continued his goalscoring form with a fine header to triple Manchester City’s lead. Stones will not have many easier outings than he did as Sparta Prague barely posed a threat going forward on Wednesday night.
Manuel Akanji- 6.5/10
Manuel Akanji marked his return to Manchester City’s starting XI by assisting Foden with an incisive left-footed pass between the lines. When called into action, the Swiss defender was reliable as ever.
Nathan Ake- 6.10
Nathan Ake finally made his much-awaited return from injury and barring the odd sloppy pass, he did not miss a beat — especially as he made crucial blocks and interceptions in the first half. Ake will be hoping to become a regular starter upon becoming fully fit.
Ilkay Gundogan- 6/10
Ilkay Gundogan kept things ticking at the base of midfield and put in a solid, if not spectacular display.
Bernardo Silva- 6.5/10
Bernardo Silva was livelier in the first half than the second — putting in teasing crosses into the box as he drifted onto the left flank from the middle of the park and made intelligent runs.
Some of the Portuguese international’s close control in deeper areas of the pitch was a joy to watch but he faded into the background as the game progressed.
Phil Foden- 7.5/10
Foden opened the scoring for Manchester City within three minutes of the contest with a wonderful strike — receiving the ball on the half-turn, carrying it forward and slotting it past Peter Vindahl Jensen.
The Stockport-born midfielder tested Jensen from range with a few rasping efforts in the first half as well.
Foden still seems to be finding his feet after a slow start to the season.
Savinho- 8.5/10
Savinho was City’s standout player in the first half — taking on his man at will, carrying the ball in a manner that made him unstoppable at times and causing mayhem on the right flank.
The Brazilian assisted Haaland’s incredible opening goal and his pressing during the game was another attribute that stood out.
Erling Haaland- 8.5/10
Haaland was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the first half against Sparta Prague — with his initial headed effort met by an incredible save from Jensen and his second one being cleared off the line.
But after the break, the Norwegian scored a remarkable acrobatic goal to open his goal that was straight out of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s playbook. Haaland’s second strike of the night was an emphatic finish with his right foot to cap off a wonderful counter-attack from the Premier League winners.
Matheus Nunes- 9/10
Nunes was deployed in an unnatural position on the left-wing where he looked the part. Nunes’ passes to Bernardo Silva, who often made both underlapping and overlapping runs were excellent and so were some of his crosses into the box.
But it was in the second half where the £54 million man came to life — assisting Stones’ header, Haaland’s second goal before winning the spot-kick he scored in what his best-ever performance for Manchester City.
Substitutes
James McAtee- 6/10
James McAtee was on the verge of potentially assisting Nico O’Reilly’s first goal in the Champions League before his pass was cut out by Jensen.
McAtee looked lively when he came on and he could have scored his second goal in the competition had he reached Haaland’s inviting cross.
Mateo Kovacic- 6/10
Mateo Kovacic replaced Gundogan and played a few crisp passes from the middle of the park and looked right at home during his cameo.
