After a slow start to the season, Manchester City's Phil Foden shines in a new midfield role and scores within the first three minutes against Sparta Prague. Despite Sparta's defensive tactics, City continuously press forward and create numerous chances. Manager Lars Friis may have his hands full trying to stop City's attack, led by the talented Kane and Foden.
Manchester City Dominate Sparta Prague in Champions League, Phil Foden Shines
Background
English Premier League giants Manchester City hosted Czech club AC Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League group stage at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. After a challenging start to the season with two consecutive Premier League losses, City were eager to assert their dominance in the European competition.
Match Summary
From the opening whistle, Manchester City took control of the match. Just three minutes in, Phil Foden opened the scoring with a low drive into the bottom corner. The English midfielder, who has been deployed in a more advanced midfield role this season, continued to impress with his movement and passing.
Despite Sparta Praha's defensive approach, City remained patient and created numerous scoring opportunities. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Riyad Mahrez all came close to extending City's lead but were denied by some excellent saves from goalkeeper Florin Nita.
In the second half, City continued to control the possession and press forward. Pep Guardiola's side managed 30 shots on goal, 14 of which were on target. Phil Foden sealed the victory in the 79th minute, doubling his tally with a close-range finish.
Phil Foden's Resurgence
Phil Foden has been one of the standout performers for Manchester City in recent weeks. After a slow start to the season, the 21-year-old has found his rhythm and impressed with his performances in a new midfield role.
Against Sparta Prague, Foden showed his versatility and attacking instincts. He was constantly involved in City's attacking play, creating chances and scoring important goals. His performance is a testament to his talent and the tactical flexibility he offers to Pep Guardiola.
Top 5 FAQs
Manchester City had a challenging start to the season due to a combination of factors, including injuries to key players, a congested fixture schedule, and a lack of preseason preparation due to the late conclusion of the previous season.
Pep Guardiola has deployed Phil Foden in a more advanced midfield role this season, where he is tasked with creating chances, scoring goals, and supporting the attacking players.
Sparta Prague opted for a defensive approach, sitting deep and trying to frustrate Manchester City's attack. They were successful in limiting City's chances in the first half but eventually succumbed to the pressure.
The win against Sparta Prague provides Manchester City with a much-needed boost in confidence and momentum. It also gives them a strong start in the Champions League group stage, as they look to improve upon their disappointing showing last season.
Manchester City face a busy schedule in the coming weeks. They host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, September 25, before traveling to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, September 29.
Ahead of Game 3 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series and their first road game of the postseason against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on the experience of playing in hostile environments. He described the thrill of silencing and even ruining the day of opposing fans who pay top dollar to watch their team, and the satisfaction that comes with winning on the road in the playoffs. Redick, known for his competitive and relentless nature, emphasized the unique allure of such moments outside of potentially winning a championship.
It was a historic night at Chepauk, as Sunrisers Hyderabad finally defeated Chennai Super Kings at their home ground after six failed attempts. CSK's fortress is now crumbling, with four home losses this season which matches their worst record in 2008 and 2012. SRH's win was fueled by a spectacular catch from Kusal Mendis, which turned the game in their favor and left CSK struggling for any hope of making it to the playoffs. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni's quest to create history in the CSK vs SRH match remained unfulfilled as SRH came out victorious.
Deepak Hooda, who was bought by CSK for INR 1.7 crore at the IPL 2024 mega auction, drew criticism from fans for his sluggish knock of 22 runs off 21 balls in their IPL 2025 match against SRH. This was following his poor performance in the previous three games for the team. Despite his overall record of 1494 runs in the IPL, Hooda's strike rate and consistency have been questioned by fans. Meanwhile, Harshal Patel's 4/28 helped SRH restrict CSK to 154, with debutants Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre contributing 42 and 30 runs, respectively.
In a thrilling IPL match, Sunrisers Hyderabad registered their first victory at the Chepauk by defeating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets. Harshal Patel's four-wicket haul and Ishan Kishan's fighting knock of 44 led the Sunrisers to victory. Captain Pat Cummins was relieved after the win and praised the team's clinical bowling performance. CSK could only manage 154 runs, thanks to brisk knocks from Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre, and SRH easily chased down the target, fixing their poor record against CSK.
Former AEW star returns to WWE after four years, making an impressive and impactful entrance during SmackDown. After being released by WWE in 2021, Black debuted in AEW as Malakai Black and gained popularity with the fan-favorite faction, House of Black. Now, Black is back in WWE and fans are excited to see what he can bring to the ring.
Indian Olympic javelin champion, Neeraj Chopra, defends his decision to invite Pakistani athlete, Arshad Nadeem, to compete in the upcoming NC Classic event in India. Despite receiving backlash and even threats towards himself and his family, Chopra stands by his invitation and expresses disappointment in the doubting of his loyalty and integrity to his country. He also voices his thoughts and prayers for the victims of a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has faced criticism and hate for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. Neeraj clarified that the invitation was sent before the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and was solely based on Arshad's status as an Olympic gold medallist. He also stated that, in light of the tragedy, Arshad's participation in the event was no longer possible.
After a string of home defeats, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally emerged victorious at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Rajasthan Royals, thanks to their captain Virat Kohli and a strong bowling unit. Kohli's unbeaten 70 runs and intense celebrations on the field reflected the high-stakes nature of the match, which saw both teams giving it their all. With this win, RCB moves up to the third spot on the league table with six wins in nine games.
India's star javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, has spoken up about the criticism he received for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic event. Despite declining the invitation, Nadeem's presence at the event was deemed inappropriate following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Chopra clarified that the invitation was sent well before the attacks and expressed his love for his country and family amidst the backlash. He also addressed the false narratives being spread about him and his family and vowed to continue representing India with pride and integrity.
Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood's brilliant performance against Rajasthan Royals' batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal caught the attention of viewers during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. In an intense competition, Hazlewood was able to dismiss Jaiswal just shy of a half-century, leading to a heated exchange between the two players. Hazlewood's final figures of 4 for 33 played a critical role in RCB's narrow 11-run victory.