Haaland Leads City to Easy Win Over Sparta in Pre-Season Friendly
Manchester City continued their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Sparta Prague in a friendly match on Wednesday. Erling Haaland, the club's summer signing, led the way with a brace, showcasing his lethal finishing abilities.
Haaland Shines in City Debut
Haaland, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund, wasted no time in making his mark. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 12th minute, slotting the ball past the Sparta goalkeeper with ease. He doubled his tally in the 31st minute, expertly finishing off a cross from Jack Grealish.
Dominant City Performance
City dominated the match from start to finish, showcasing their attacking prowess and fluid passing game. Kevin De Bruyne added a third goal in the 37th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box. Cole Palmer extended the lead further in the 68th minute with a composed finish, before Phil Foden rounded off the scoring in the 84th minute.
Positive Signs for City
The win against Sparta Prague provided further evidence of City's strength heading into the new season. Manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with the performance, particularly impressed with the team's overall intensity and movement.
"We played with a lot of energy and movement," Guardiola said after the match. "We created a lot of chances and scored some good goals. I'm happy with the way the players are working and how they are adapting to the new season."
Next Up: Bayern Munich
City will now face another tough test in their pre-season schedule as they take on Bayern Munich in a friendly match on Saturday. The encounter will provide another valuable opportunity for Guardiola to assess his squad before the Premier League season kicks off next month.
This match served as a strong reminder of City's attacking threat with Haaland leading the line. With their pre-season campaign in full swing, fans will be eager to see how the team performs against tougher opponents in the coming weeks.