Temi Kings
Manchester City made it back-to-back victories to open the 2026/27 Premier League season under Enzo Maresca, producing an attacking showcase to defeat Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park on Friday evening. Building momentum from their opening-weekend win against Bournemouth, the visiting champions established immediate control in South London. The deadlock was broken in the 17th minute when Erling Haaland registered his first goal of the new league campaign, directing a header past Dean Henderson following precision setup play.
City elevated their tempo after the interval, doubling their advantage in the 54th minute through Rayan Cherki. The French international, brimming with confidence following his mid-week PFA Young Player of the Year honor, wove through the Palace defense to finish a clever solo effort. Crystal Palace pulled a goal back in the 56th minute under bizarre circumstances when Yeremy Pino's long-range free-kick crashed off the crossbar and struck Gianluigi Donnarumma on the rebound before trickling over the line for an own goal. However, City's two-goal cushion was restored just three minutes later as Cherki unleashed a curling long-range strike into the far corner to complete his brace.
With Phil Foden orchestrating the engine room and tallying two crucial assists, Maresca’s side expertly managed the closing stages before putting the contest completely to rest in the 84th minute. Haaland pounced on a loose ball inside the box to notch his second of the night and cap off a clinical 4-1 away victory. The result preserves City's 100% record in the Premier League standings as Maresca continues to build tactical fluidity ahead of the busy autumn calendar.