Manchester City made Champions League history by beating Sparta Prague as they eclipsed rivals Manchester United with an incredible unbeaten record.
City set a new milestone after their resounding 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague as they went 26 successive matches without defeat in the competition. In the process, they dethroned one of their fiercest rivals by taking a record that had stood for 15 years. United’s run, led by legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, spanned from 2007 to 2009 and was headlined by their Champions League triumph in 2008 in Moscow.
Though other clubs came close to hitting the mark, including Bayern Munich’s 19-match unbeaten run from 2019 to 2021, it is City who have finally claimed the record for themselves. Their last defeat in the Champions League came in the 2021–22 season at the hands of Real Madrid in the semi-finals, where a 3–1 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu ended their campaign. However, the penalty shootout defeat to Madrid last season does not count toward the unbeaten streak, as the match ended 1–1 after extra time.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland was once again at the heart of the action, exploiting Sparta Prague’s defensive frailties as his incredible backheeled volley stole the show after Phil Foden had initially put City ahead early in the game. But Haaland didn’t stop there. He struck again later in the match, notching his second goal of the night and taking his tally to 44 goals in the Champions League. Stones powered home a header, the second-consecutive game in which he found the back of the net with his head. The victory was capped off when Matheus Nunes converted a late penalty, completing the rout.
With the Champions League unbeaten record now theirs, Pep Guardiola’s attention will turn back to domestic matters, with a Premier League fixture against Southampton awaiting on Saturday. City will aim to carry their European form into the league as they continue their pursuit of a record-breaking fifth league title on the trot.
