Manchester City 3 Palermo 0: Match report from City’s final friendly of their pre-season | OneFootball

Manchester City 3 (Erling Haaland 25′, Tijjani Reijnders 59′, 82′)

Palermo 0

Manchester City have completed their pre-season preparations for the 25/26 season with a 3-nil win against Palermo. With the result, the Anglo-Palermitan Trophy will be held by Manchester City. But from a City point of view, there was plenty to take from the match. There were areas of Manchester City’s play that were impressive over the 90 minutes. But that excitement was tempered by some areas of concern that stood out during the game.

First half: The Anglo-Palermitan Trophy fixture saw Palermo make a fast start.

The match kicked off at the Renzo Barbera Stadium with the home crowd in a buoyant mood. It would be Palermo who would create the first meaningful chance of the match. A mix-up at the back saw James Trafford concede a corner in the third minute. From the resulting corner, Pietro Ceccaroni headed inches wide of James Trafford’s goal.

Two minutes later, Palermo had another opportunity to open the scoring. Segre played a teasing ball from the left wing for Palermo. Segre’s tempting cross just evaded Joel Pahjanpalo at the back post. But Pep Guardiola’s side was under early pressure from Filippo Inzaghi’s side.

Manchester City settle into the game after Palermo’s fast start and take the lead in the 25th minute.

Following Palermo’s fast start to the game, Pep Guardiola’s side began to dominate possession. Palermo had their moments when pressing James Trafford and the Manchester City defence in their own half, but as the first half wore on, Pep Guardiola’s side began to dominate proceedings.

Their domination of possession would see Manchester City take the lead in the 25th minute. A well-worked move saw Rico Lewis tee up Erling Haaland from just inside the left-hand side of the Palermo penalty area. Haaland unleashed a quality shot with his right foot to give Manchester City the lead.

Manchester City began to pin Palermo deep in their own half as Rayan Cherki began to dictate play.

Following Erling Haaland’s opener, Manchester City began to dominate proceedings further. There was a crispness and intelligence to City’s play. Although Palermo did offer a threat on the counterattack, it was City who were the dominant team. The standout performer was Rayan Cherki for Manchester City. The French international drifted all over the pitch, and his ability to pick out a ball almost set up Omar Marmoush for a simple finish in the 35th minute.

In the 43rd minute, a well-worked move from Manchester City saw Oscar Bobb set up Rayan Cherki. Cherki’s goal-bound shot was blocked on the goal line by the Palermo defence. That would be the last meaningful action of the first half.

For Manchester City, Rayan Cherki, John Stones, Nico and Abdukodur Khusanov were the standout performers in my opinion. The performance of Rayan Cherki especially stood out for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Second half.

Pep Guardiola made ten substitutions at the interval. The only player who remained on the pitch after the first half was Erling Haaland.

Following the raft of substitutions made by Pep Guardiola, the second half began similarly to that of the first. Manchester City dominated possession but couldn’t break down a stubborn Palermo rearguard. The opening 14 minutes of the second passed by without incident. However, the forward runs of Tijjani Reijnders did stand out.

Savinho sets up Tijjani Reijnders to give Manchester City a 2-nil lead.

In the 59th minute, Tijjani Reijnders would give Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-nil lead. A quality piece of play from Savinho set up the Dutch international. Reijnders emphatically beat Alfred Gomis in the Palermo goal with a neat finish. It was a simple goal for Pep Guardiola’s side, but it showed the quality that this City side possesses.

Following Tijjani Reijnders’ goal, Palermo had two decent chances to make it 2-1. But both chances came to nothing, although it did show that Palermo weren’t going to roll over. Also, Divine Mukasa replaced Erling Haaland on the hour mark. Mukasa made his first team debut for Manchester City. it was a special moment for the youngster and it could be the beginning of a special career for such a young player.

After Palermo’s surge after Tijjani Reijnders made it 2-nil, the game entered a holding pattern. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession and Palermo defended resolutely. But there would be time for Tijjani Reijnders to grab a second goal and make it 3-nil. The Dutch international surged through the Palermo defence and beat Alfred Gomis with ease to bag a brace. That would be the last meaningful action of the night as Pep Guardiola’s side rounded out their preparations for the 25/26 season with a professional display.

Final thoughts.

It was a tale of two halves when assessing how Manchester City performed against Palermo. The first half saw Pep Guardiola’s side settle into the game after the hosts made a fast start. There were a few nervy moments at the back, especially with James Trafford in possession. But to Trafford’s credit, he overcame those to settle into the game. For me, Rayan Cherki was the standout performer for Manchester City in the first half. Playing in a free role he drifted all over the pitch to be a constant threat to the Palermo defence. That would seemingly be Cherki’s best position. Also Erling Haaland’s goal showed he will be a menace next season. It was a sublime finish from City’s number nine.

Tijjani Reijnders was the standout performer of the second half. He grabbed a brace and showed exactly what he adds to Manchester City’s play and midfield. Palermo had their moments but in the end Manchester City’s quality on the night was the difference between the two teams.

Manchester City will now ramp up their preparations for next weekend’s opening Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. This is a new look City team and one thay is packed with quality and a new era gets underway next weekend.