By Lori Ewing MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Erling Haaland back-heeled home a stunning strike, the first of two goals on the night for Manchester City’s goal-scoring machine, as City cruised past Sparta Prague 5-0 on Wednesday to remain unbeaten in their Champions League campaign. Phil Foden, John Stones and Matheus Nunes also scored for Pep Guardiola’s side who climbed to third in Europe’s elite club competition with seven points after three games, while Sparta have four points. City are now unbeaten in 26 successive Champions League matches, the longest unbeaten streak by any club in the competition’s history, breaking the record of 25 by Manchester United from 2007-2009.
Haaland was the star of the show, bringing the blue-clad City fans out of their seats at Etihad Stadium when he scored in spectacular fashion in the 58th minute, leaping high to backheel home Savinho’s cross from out of the air. “I saw it when the ball came in. It’s unbelievable.
He’s a statue. So tall and so flexible,” Guardiola said. “I like it, he has this sense of humour.
Unbelievable.” Nunes added: “What an amazing goal. I was speechless after that.
When he scored a similar goal against Dortmund I was watching on TV so to see this live it was amazing.” The 24-year-old Norwegian completed his brace with a more traditional finish in the 68th minute, easily slotting home a pass from Savinho to put his scoring tally at 44 Champions League goals in 42 games. Haaland climbed level.
