Manchester City cruised to victory in the latest Champions League outing against Sparta Praha – and Phil Foden was on target once again.
Manchester City beat the Czech side 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium, and now sit third in the League Phase table.
Erling Haaland scored twice, including one stunning acrobatic effort, with Foden, John Stones and Matheus Nunes all scoring.
Foden got City off to the perfect start when he received the ball between the lines from Manuel Akanji. He worked his way into the area and fired into the far corner for his second goal of the season.
Foden was named the official Player of the Match last night to signify that he is well on the way to getting back to his best.
The CFA graduate certainly enjoys this competition, and one brilliant – and also amusing – statistic started doing the rounds on social media last night.
Foden was back in the starting XI last night after being named on the bench against Wolves.
It has been a bit of a slow start for the star, after he returned late following his exploits for England at Euro 2024.
But we are now starting to see Foden get into the groove and against Sparta, he was perhaps at his highest level so far this term.
His goal was very well taken, and those over at Stat Muse have had a bit of fun regarding his latest strike.
They have pointed out that the City man actually now has as many goals in the Champions League as his England teammates Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka combined.
Rashford has just 12 in 33 so far, whereas Saka has five in 11.
Fans of each player have loved comparing the trio down the years, and City fans will certainly take great satisfaction from this particular statistic.
With 17 goals to his name, Foden has also overtaken David Beckham’s Champions League goal tally.
Foden getting back to his best
There will be much sterner tests for City than Sparta, but regardless, it was good to see Foden stepping up last night in the number 10 role.
The 24-year-old was superb between the lines, and the Sparta players struggled to pick him up.
Phil Foden vs Sparta Praha
Minutes played – 90
Touches – 78
Passes/completed – 54/59 (92%)
Duels/won – 8/4
Goals – 1
via Sofascore
Foden has not hit his best level just yet but fans will hope last night’s game can be a catalyst for him. He has been back in the picture for a number of weeks now, and the hope is that he will find the form of last season.
Kevin De Bruyne looks like he might need wrapping in cotton wool this season having had fitness issues already this term.
So it will be important for Foden to rise to the challenge once again.
Pep Guardiola has already warned that Foden will be back ‘soon’, and City fans cannot wait to see him full flow once again.
