Man City break Man Utd's 15-year-old Champions League record
- Man City enjoy 5-0 win over Sparta Prague in the Champions League
- An Erling Haaland brace played a pivotal role in the thumping victory
- Pep Guardiola's side have now gone 26 games unbeaten in Europe
Manchester City ensured on Wednesday night that the top three in the Champions League standings all belong to the Premier League, putting five goals past Sparta Prague. They are also now in possession of the longest unbeaten record in European Cup history - albeit in controversial circumstances.
Aston Villa's win over Bologna on Tuesday, followed by Liverpool's victory against RB Leipzig 24 hours later means both sides are still in possession of 100% records in this season's competition.
But the heavy nature of City's demolition of Sparta was enough to lift Pep Guardiola's side into third place thanks to a superior goal difference than the six other teams who also have seven points.
It wasn't a rout from start to finish, although Phil Foden did put City into an early lead with only three minutes on the clock. There were other chances that were saved by visiting goalkeeper Peter Vindahl, but things hinged on Erling Haaland's acrobatic backheel volley.
Guardiola reflected afterwards that it is an "incredible joy" to have Haaland in his team.
"This is Zlatan Ibrahimovic vibes!"
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 23, 2024
Rio Ferdinand and Steve McManaman heap praise on Erling Haaland, who embraced his inner Karate Kid against Sparta Prague 🥋💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Z6ZKZFd90Q
That goal, set up by Savinho's skillful dribble, could end up being a Puskas Award nominee in future, and served to break Sparta's resistance. John Stones got City’s third only six minutes later, followed by another for Haaland only four more minutes after that.
Matheus Nunes, who had already done his confidence the world of good with assists for City's third and fourth goals, then rounded off the night from the penalty spot in the closing moments.
For City, this was a 26th Champions League game in a row without defeat, breaking the previous 25-game record set by Manchester United between 2007 and 2009. Guardiola's side equalled that number last time out against Slovan Bratislava and have now surpassed it.
The 2022/23 European champions haven't lost a game at this level since May 2022 when Real Madrid won 3-1 in a semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu. It's worth mentioning, however, that the Cityzens did fall to Madrid on penalties in last season's quarter-final, although since that came outside a regular 120 minutes of football, it is not counted in the record books.
To extend the new record to 27 games unbeaten, City travel to Portugal to face Sporting CP on matchday four early next month.
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