Erling Haaland steals the show with stunning backheel goal

Manchester City cruised to a 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague in the Champions League, but the match will be remembered for a moment of brilliance from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker netted twice, with his first goal—a remarkable backheel flick—leaving fans and teammates in awe. The goal, reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s acrobatic finishes, was Haaland’s 43rd in the Champions League, followed shortly by his 44th. At just 24 years old, Haaland continues to defy expectations on Europe’s biggest stage.

Nathan Ake returns

The match at the Etihad Stadium saw the return of Nathan Aké to the Manchester City lineup after weeks on the sidelines due to injury. Aké’s presence provided a boost to Pep Guardiola’s side, and City asserted their dominance from the first whistle. Just three minutes into the game, Phil Foden put City ahead with a precise shot into the bottom right corner, setting the tone for a one-sided first half. As the match progressed, City maintained control, with Sparta Prague struggling to keep pace. Early in the second half, Aké thought he had marked his comeback with a goal, but it was ruled out due to a handball during a corner kick. However, the real highlight of the evening came soon after.

Haaland's incredible backheel stuns the crowd

In the 53rd minute, Erling Haaland delivered a moment of pure magic. Meeting a cross in mid-air, the Norwegian forward executed a flying backheel that sent the ball past Sparta Prague’s goalkeeper and into the net. The spectacular goal drew applause from the entire stadium and quickly became a viral sensation online. It was a strike that left fans and pundits alike struggling to find the right words to describe its brilliance. The second goal for Haaland came later in the match, as he pounced on a rebound to double his tally. John Stones and Matheus Nunes also found the back of the net, rounding out a commanding 5-0 win for Manchester City.

Guardiola and teammates praise Haaland's brilliance

After the match, Pep Guardiola was effusive in his praise for Haaland, particularly for his wonder goal. “Erling is an incredibly talented player. He’s truly unstoppable. What he did today is not normal for a human being,” Guardiola said in his post-match interview. “This goal reminds me of the one he scored against Borussia Dortmund.” Matheus Nunes, who witnessed the goal up close, echoed Guardiola’s sentiments. “I remember watching that goal on TV, and now I’ve seen it happen right in front of me. I’m absolutely speechless. Erling scores goals that others wouldn’t even attempt,” Nunes said. Phil Foden, who opened the scoring for City, was equally astonished. “He’s a freak,” Foden joked after the match. “If I tried that, I’d probably tear everything. I have no idea how he pulled that off.”

City’s unbeaten run in the Champions League continues

The win over Sparta Prague extended Manchester City’s unbeaten streak in the Champions League to 26 matches, surpassing the previous record held by their city rivals, Manchester United. The Citizens have won 18 of those matches and drawn 8, cementing their place as one of Europe’s most formidable sides. City’s last defeat in the competition came against Real Madrid, with a 3-1 loss in the 2023 knockout stages. With Erling Haaland in top form and the team performing at its peak, Manchester City looks poised for another deep run in the Champions League. As fans continue to marvel at Haaland’s stunning strike, City will aim to carry their momentum into the next round of fixtures.