Pep hails 'unstoppable' Haaland after Sparta wonder strike | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola described Erling Haaland as an 'unstoppable' force after City’s master marksman grabbed another brace - including a remarkable backheeled volley – in Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League win over Sparta Prague.

Phil Foden had given City an early third minute lead at the Etihad with a fine strike of his own before a stubborn and well-drilled Sparta side then proved difficult to break down.

As so often however, Haaland provided the key to unlocking the opposition defence.

The Norwegian doubled City’s lead just before the hour with a stunning strike, jumping acrobatically to meet Savinho’s cross with an outrageous backheeled volley.

He then followed that up with another fine finish – and was twice denied by superb saves from the Sparta keeper - before a John Stones header and Matheus Nunes penalty set the seal on a fine night’s work.

And reflecting on our latest European success – which lifted City up into third place in the Champions League table after the first three games – the City boss again made plain his admiration for ‘an unbelievable talent.’

“It’s unbelievable the talent this guy has. When Erling gets in behind, he is unstoppable,” Guardiola declared.

“Erling has this incredible capacity. He can touch the ball 15 times but have seven or eight chances.

“Today he scored two goals and could have scored two more. Erling has this incredible capacity.

“He can touch the ball 15 times but have seven or eight chances.

“He made a fantastic goal but scored similar goal against Dortmund a couple of years ago with an incredible pass from Joao Cancelo.

“I didn’t know how it was scored. There was a player in front of me. Yeah, against Dortmund it was quite similar. For a human being, it's not normal.

“I don’t know which one is more difficult. For me, both!”

Wednesday’s victory further extended City’s unbeaten start to the season across all competitions and made it seven points out of nine from our first three Champions League games.

Sparta became the latest opposition side to pack bodies behind the ball in an effort to frustrated City but the boss said the way his players found a solution further emphasised his satisfaction at our overall form

“I am enjoying a lot the way we are playing lately. Not the second half against Fulham but in general I'm so pleased” Pep added.

“We are working to attack better and better and better, it’s a question of being patient. We score four goals in Bratislava [and] five goals here was unexpected for me.

“We are third [in the table]. We are there with five games left.

“We need to finish in the first eight because it’s a good advantage to not play one knockout stage and focus on the Premier League.

“We have problems with injuries like many other teams but I rely a lot on all the players and they prove to me I am right.”