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Erling Haaland's spectacular acrobatic performance gave Manchester City a 5-0 win over Sparta Prague and moved up to third place in the Champions League table.

The Norwegian scored two goals, including a shoulder-height backheel shot, as City raged against the Czech champions.

Phil Foden, John Stones and Matheus Nunes also scored for Pep Guardiola's side, who remain unbeaten in all competitions this season.

Sparta had taken four points from the first two Champions League games against Salzburg and Stuttgart, but City was a step up in class for the guests.

Foden's struggle for form and fitness has compounded City's injury problems with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne out.

But there were encouraging signs for Guardiola when the England international, back in the starting line-up, scored the opening goal after just three minutes.

Haaland had nine shots on target in total but was frustrated in the first half when Sparta refused to open the scoring before half-time.

Peter Vindahl parried a powerful header from Haaland in the 10th minute with an impressive save deep on the right.

Vindahl was also denied by Foden, while Haaland had another powerful header saved off the line.

For all the home side's dominance, Sparta would have equalized midway through the first half if Ederson hadn't made a brilliant save from Veljko Birmancevic's shot from a City corner.

Haaland eventually scored City's second goal with a shot reminiscent of his strike against old club Borussia Dortmund two years ago, which secured the Champions League goal of the season.

Savinho's struck cross was just behind the 24-year-old, who twisted his body to hit the ball martial arts style and fire it past Vindahl.

Stones scored the crucial stoppage-time winner against Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday and continued his winning streak in front of goal with a header from Nunes' cross.

At the end of a brilliant City counter-attack, Haaland then completed a three-goal effort in 11 minutes.

Deft passes from Rico Lewis, Foden and Nunes led Haaland to his 44th Champions League goal in just 42 appearances in the competition.

Guardiola had the luxury of replacing his star number nine along with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in the closing stages with City in a series of seven games in 21 days.

Nunes completed the defeat from the penalty spot after being brought down in the penalty area.

With the win, City have collected seven points from their first three Champions League games and are only behind Premier League rivals Liverpool and Aston Villa.

kca/dj