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Manchester City's star striker Erling Haaland amazed fans and teammates alike with a spectacular backheel volley in a 5-0 Champions League victory over Sparta Praha on Wednesday. Although City's win was somewhat expected, Haaland's goal brought a rare level of surprise and awe.
City took an early lead with a goal from Phil Foden, but they needed more to establish a comfortable edge. In the 58th minute, Brazilian winger Savinho sent a cross into the box at an awkward angle. However, instead of missing the opportunity, Haaland leapt and, with his back to the goal, executed an acrobatic backheel that sent the ball bouncing into the corner of the net. His skill left the crowd—and even his teammates—speechless.
"It was an amazing goal," said midfielder Matheus Nunes. "I was speechless after that shot." Coach Pep Guardiola echoed the sentiment, praising Haaland's skill and calling his goal "unbelievable." Known for his prowess and confidence, the 24-year-old has made a habit of scoring unique and difficult goals. Foden also marveled at his teammate's abilities, jokingly saying, "If I tried that, I'd probably pull my groin!"
This goal adds to Haaland's history of jaw-dropping finishes, reminiscent of a similar goal he scored two years ago against Borussia Dortmund. His second goal in the 68th minute capped off an impressive performance that saw contributions from John Stones and Nunes, cementing City's move up to third in the Champions League table.
For City, these memorable performances are part of a larger ambition to secure their second European title, with Haaland's skill keeping fans on the edge of their seats. City now looks ahead to the remaining matches with an eye on more historic moments.
