Manchester City 5-0 Sparta Praha Review

Champions League - League Phase GW3

In another game of breaking down, a team sat deep in its box. This time, we saw some different approaches and personnel due to injuries, whether it was their willingness to cross, changes to corner routines, or having a winger willing to make runs in behind. All of that contributed to a convincing result and another step forward in performance.

Notable Stats:

• Erling Haaland is now the joint 14th-highest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League (44). The only player on the top scorers list to have scored more goals than games played.

• Manchester City now holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in Champions League history (26), overtaking Manchester United (25).

• Phil Foden (17) has now scored more Champions League goals than David Beckham (16).

Game Stats:

Manchester City 5-0 Sparta Praha

• xG: 3.96 - 0.22

• xThreat: 2.29 - 0.4

• Possession: 79.3% - 20.7%

• Field Tilt: 93.4% - 6.6%

• Penalty Box Shots: 18 - 4

• Deep Entries: 27 - 4

• PPDA: 8.4 - 24.3

• High Turnovers: 5 - 0

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 40 - 4

Manchester City set up for the match with a couple of changes, Ortega coming in for Ederson as we law in the last Champions League match, Nathan Ake making his welcomed return from injury, Phil Foden is back starting and Matheus Nunes coming in for the injured Jeremy Doku/Jack Grealish at LW.

Quite quickly we saw a similar pattern emerge, the team needed to break down a low block. But what we saw throughout the first and second half was some different approaches to breaking down that low block. Firstly, the willingness to cross from Savinho and Nunes on either side. With Savinho it was his weak foot after beating the defender to the by-line that worked better for him than coming inside, often into traffic. When there was space inside he got a couple of shots off and you can tell he’s desperate to score to the extent he’s forcing it more than he should. Nunes was able to cross on his left once beating the defender to gain separation or passing back to Bernardo for him to cross instead.

Rico Lewis and John Stones made some frequent runs between the LCB and LWB of Sparta which opened up space for Savinho to cross or cut inside. Stones making that run when Foden came over was a nice rotation. Nunes a number of times would make the run behind the full-back that Bernardo/Gundogan would pick out with a through ball.

1-0 Phil Foden (3') 

This is the situation that Phil Foden is arguably the best in the world at, taking the ball on the half-turn in the middle of the pitch. Akanji is brave enough to play the pass between the lines, that the team lack without Rodri. From there Foden bursts into the box past two Sparta players that attempt to challenge him and within a second get his shot off into the far bottom corner.

2-0 Erling Haaland (58’)

As mentioned earlier with Savinho crossing on his weak foot, it continued into the second half and eventually Erling Haaland was able to finish one of them. Perhaps the hardest one he makes look easy.

These are the athletic finishes we’ve seen throughout his career and several times for Manchester City. These are the moments you’re going to remember him by, managing to score goals like this. 🤯

We did see a change in the set-piece routines from the team in this match, compared to their approach against Fulham and Wolves. The rest defense remains the same but this time they pinned Sparta inside their 6-yard box and once the delivery is made they spring back out to their position. Foden and Gundogan provided good delivery for all of the corners.

3-0 John Stones (64’)

A corner taken by Gundogan on the left side goes short, eventually worked to Nunes for the cross to the back post that John Stones scores. An excellent cross from Nunes and for Stones that’s his third goal of the season, providing a real threat in the air in the last couple of matches. It’s not just about him, the whole team has made improvements in the last two matches at set pieces.

4-0 Erling Haaland (68')

The type of goal it's rare to see from Manchester City, but they had the players on the pitch to make it happen. Given the lead that City had, they were willing to put their foot on the ball in their half to try to force Sparta out to press. They came out and opened up the space to play behind them.

Ortega passes out to Akanji who drives into the space in front before passing to Rico Lewis. Lewis then turns and drives up the pitch away from a Sparta player, passing through for Phil Foden who is running down the middle of the pitch. Matheus Nunes makes a run from left to right as Haaland comes back across him to the middle. Foden passes to Nunes who lays it off for Haaland. As we've seen all season from Haaland in his goals, he knows when to take an extra touch. In this case as the defender is coming across to block, cutting back onto his right to score.

This is the variety of options the team had to attack the box and break down the low block of Sparta Praha. Savinho crosses (6) from the by-line as well as carrying inside the box (5). Nunes offers the same crosses on the left (7) and carries into the box (5). Passes into the box from Rico Lewis (2) and Bernardo (2).

Moving Forward

It’s a crucial weekend for Manchester City, with Arsenal playing Liverpool the day after, they must pick up three points against Southampton (H). Midweek against Spurs is a game I’d expect both sides to rotate for and neither to be too upset with losing. Phil Foden has already gotten 4G+A and he’ll quickly start catching up to Erling Haaland.

Important night for Matheus Nunes who showed not only his capabilities and physical qualities but also that he could fit into this team. More than a player that can only contribute in transition. Now he needs the minutes to prove that consistently, with Grealish and Doku out injured, he’ll get that opportunity.

Erling Haaland is now only two goals behind Eusebio and four behind Ibrahimovic, moving his way up the list of all-time Champions League top scorers.

Next up for Manchester City is Southampton (H) on the 26th October, 15:00 GMT. Preview for the match to be published tomorrow.

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