MANCHESTER CITY – IPSWICH 4-1:
While Erling Braut Haaland, along with a string of goals in just a few minutes, largely decided the match against Ipswich early on, there were also some heartfelt reunions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Norwegian superstar striker completed his seventh hat trick in the English league just before full time.
– He scores everything, Erling Braut Haaland. It’s a wonderful goal. He pulls back before the shot and curls the ball back. A brilliant performance by Haaland, praised Viaplay expert Nils Johan Semb.
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– A nice hat trick, an important win, and three valuable points. We controlled the game, they had really nothing, Haaland himself summed up to Viaplay.
Frustrated Guardiola
Just past midway through the second half, it was time for a couple of City substitutions. While Savinho and Jérémy Doku said their goodbyes, two crowd favorites among the home fans entered the field.
Ilkay Gündogan recently returned to City after just one season as a Barcelona player. But Jack Grealish also got another chance in the league, where he has not been active for the light blues since the first week of May.
Grealish was surprisingly not included in England’s European Championship squad for the tournament in Germany this summer.
As it eventually seemed time for the aforementioned double substitution, Athletic journalist Sam Lee noted that manager Pep Guardiola appeared somewhat frustrated with Grealish.
– Guardiola wants it to happen quicker, Lee first noted on X.
– When Guardiola was annoyed with Grealish there, he gestured to the pitch as if to say, ‘Do you want to come on? Well hurry up then!’ Lee elaborated.
Chance Barrage
Neither Grealish nor Gündogan managed to improve the scoreline, but Haaland did so right at the end.
After a long string of significant City chances to increase the lead further, the prolific scorer finally succeeded.
With 4–1 nearing the end, the match concluded with three secure points for Manchester City.