The big guy defies the laws of physics. Try to describe that. An absolutely amazing moment. Moments that he has conjured up before, but moments that always briefly take your breath away.

Erling Haaland was not in front of the Sparta Prague goal. He was about 10 meters away, Savinho's flowing cross was good enough to cause mild panic but not really suitable for attacking. Leave it to someone else. That was the sensible target man play.

Haaland, constantly thwarted all night, acted instinctively as he envisioned a volley. The right liked it when he dared to be bold, but the Norwegian went one step further. With his left hand he effectively hits a volley into the corner. A volley of hacks, if such a thing even exists.

The Etihad gasped as it appeared on the big screen. Haaland shrugged his shoulders, grinned, another day in the office. There can't be many – if any – players in the world who would attempt that, let alone complete it.

And that's what he does, the man who divides the opinion of those who would rather poke holes than just enjoy the raw emotions that a Hercules can evoke. Erling Haaland does things that Manchester City fans will remember for decades to come and that will be his legacy here.

Erling Haaland scored twice to help Man City to a stunning win at the Etihad Stadium

His first goal was a remarkable acrobatic shot as he looked away from goal

Haaland's second goal was a more conventional right-footed goal

It opened this game, City's second game of the night, and ensured they comfortably moved past Sparta, who, had they pulled back any further, might have found themselves in the queue at the Asda hot meat counter across the street. Pep Guardiola says he enjoys the challenge of finding new ways to break low deadlocks and it's a good job because if he doesn't, what's the point of it all?

This is the life of the city. Be as patient as possible against the opponent who is standing on the tiptoes of his goalkeeper and pushing violently against the locked door. As soon as it opens, they go looting. Haaland grabbed another goal – John Stones headed a fourth and Matheus Nunes joined in as City set a new record for the longest unbeaten run in Champions League history.

Guardiola bristled on Tuesday afternoon when discussing injuries, recalling anger over those sustained on international duty, with captain Kyle Walker's knee problem his latest concern. That was before it became clear that wingers Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish were also each suffering from fitness problems, making Guardiola's gloomy mood more understandable.

Doku and Grealish, the two battling for the spot on the left behind Erling Haaland, appear to have felt absent for more than one game in a season in which City's small squad – actually a small squad, it should be added – felt absent stretched a bit. Guardiola named seven substitutes, two of them goalkeepers and another, Nico O'Reilly, who was taken from the under-19 youth team, to make up the numbers.

Some of those who have played the most minutes so far – notably Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic – have been given a break, but Guardiola knows he needs a more complete line-up more often to avoid heavy legs in the relentless winter.

Phil Foden opened the scoring with a beautiful finish into the bottom corner of the net

It was a welcome positive moment for Foden after a difficult start to the season

The downside of a series of absences is that some of the protagonists are barely visible. Firstly Kevin De Bruyne – he will be back soon, possibly at the weekend – but also Phil Foden. His illness meant he was unable to play for weeks and given his low energy levels, City took the time to reinstate him. His performance for Wolves changed the picture on Sunday and within three minutes of his fourth start of the season he put them in the lead.

A classic Foden advance where he picked up Manuel Akanji's pass, broke off his feet and flew past Peter Vindahl. Precise, all over the body.

It was the kind of finish this stadium was used to last year when Foden broke Premier League records for goal involvements as a midfielder and secured the much-vaunted individual honors in another title win. His importance increased tenfold in what appeared to be a carefully managed rise of his club. More nights like this and the few months of watching will be forgotten.

They really need him against opponents like Sparta, and City have occasionally struggled to overcome those who have lagged behind recently. Someone who is so light on his feet in the smallest of spaces that the Czech master doesn't offer any room to work. Then Foden actually finds his best.

The 24-year-old hit the goalkeeper with another brutal shot into the palms, while Haaland met an inspired Vindahl who somehow missed a header into the far corner and later shot another ball out of danger. In between there was a header from Haaland which was clipped off the line before Nathan Ake thought he had forced a second goal 100 seconds after the restart.

John Stones scored a great header – his third goal of the season – to give City a 3-0 lead

Matheus Nunes scored a late penalty to secure a clear win for the hosts

A little bumpy when Ake blocked a Foden corner, but referee Maurizio Mariani ruled the Dutchman had mastered the ball. Ake is another who was completely missed, this is his first start. He had previously played three minutes of club football, including 135 for the Netherlands, before an injury set him back during the September break.

There's no denying that Haaland would manage the night around him in stunning fashion and had time to spend his second-place finish behind Vindahl. Then Nunes crossed to Stones – another on the way to a comeback – and flicked a header into the far corner. Nunes, brilliant all evening, won and scored a late penalty.

More to come…