The Admiration for Erling Haaland Knows No Limits
Erling Haaland once again left everyone speechless with an acrobatic goal in Manchester City’s 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague in the Champions League. The goal came in the 58th minute when Savinho sped down the right flank and delivered a cross into the box. Although Haaland misjudged the ball’s trajectory, he leaped into the air and, with an acrobatic backheel, sent the ball bouncing into the net, stunning everyone, including his coach Pep Guardiola. "It’s an incredible goal. I don’t know how he did it. For any human being, it would be impossible," said the Catalan coach.
The Norwegian's move recalled the martial arts-inspired tricks that Zlatan Ibrahimovic used to perform throughout his career. "If I tried that, I’d pull my groin," joked Phil Foden, who was named man of the match and also scored the game’s opening goal. Another teammate, Matheus Nunes, expressed his amazement by recalling a similar goal Haaland scored during his time at Borussia Dortmund: "He’s a monster, I have no words."
Beyond the spectacle, Haaland once again showcased his unmatched scoring ability by netting a brace, bringing his Champions League tally to 44 goals. This achievement tied him with Ivorian legend Didier Drogba, who needed 92 matches to reach that number, while Haaland did it in just 42. Furthermore, the Norwegian became the second-fastest player to score 20 goals for a single club in this competition, trailing only Ruud van Nistelrooy with Manchester United.
Sparta Prague’s coach, Lars Friis, acknowledged Haaland’s brilliance: "We thought we had him under control, and suddenly he scored a goal like that." Guardiola, for his part, praised not only Haaland's scoring ability but also his defensive effort: "He can touch the ball 15 or 20 times in a game and still generate 7 or 8 chances. It’s incredible."
With 13 goals in 12 matches this season, Haaland remains in the race to top the scoring charts among Europe’s top five leagues. Currently, only Robert Lewandowski, with 15 goals in 13 games, and Harry Kane, with 14 goals in 11 matches, surpass his numbers. It’s clear that Haaland is on his way to breaking records and cementing himself as one of the world’s best strikers.
