Manchester City set a new milestone in Champions League history, claiming the longest unbeaten run in the competition with a resounding 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague at the Etihad Stadium. The reigning 2023 champions not only extended their undefeated streak but also surpassed Real Madrid’s previous record of 32 consecutive unbeaten home matches on the European stage.
City, barely breaking a sweat, cruised to the win with goals from Phil Foden, Erling Haaland (twice), John Stones, and Mateus Nunes. Foden, stepping up in the absence of Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku, wasted no time making an impact. Within the first three minutes, he curled a low strike inside the far post after cutting inside, giving the hosts an early lead and setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Sparta’s goalkeeper, Peter Vindahl, initially thwarted Haaland’s efforts to double City’s lead, saving two headers from the Norwegian striker. However, Haaland soon broke through, scoring with an instinctive acrobatic finish from a Savinho cross midway through the second half, opening the floodgates for City.
John Stones added a third with a powerful header, his third goal of the season, and just minutes later, Rico Lewis set up Haaland for his second of the night, a beautifully curled strike into the far corner. Mateus Nunes capped off the night with a composed penalty, completing the rout.
This victory further cemented City’s dominance in the Champions League, where their only blemish during this record-breaking unbeaten run was a penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in last season’s quarterfinals, following two drawn legs.
