Manchester City 5 Burnley 1: A second half surge sees City pick another three points | OneFootball

Manchester City 5 (Maxime Estève OG 12′, 65′, Matheus Nunes 61′, Erling Haaland 90′, 90+3)

Burnley 1 (Jaidon Anthony 38′)

Manchester City have beaten Burnley 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium today. The scoreline doesn’t reflect Manchester City’s performance. In the end they picked up an emphatic win, but for large parts of the match they were below their best. A second half surge saw Pep Guardiola’s score four goals to put the result to bed.

When the starting lineups were announced, Pep Guardiola made six changes to the lineup that beat Huddersfield Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Mateo Kovacic returned to the bench while Rodri wasn’t deemed fit enough to play in today’s match.

First half

The pattern of the match was established in the opening ten minutes. Manchester City were dominating possession, and Burnley were sitting deep with a back five and a bank of four in midfield in front of their defence. Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t create any significant chances. Two shots from outside the Burnley area from Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly were both blocked. There was an early VAR check for a handball from Kyle Walker, but that was cleared.

Manchester City takes the lead after a superb piece of play from Jeremy Doku.

Pep Guardiola’s side would take the lead in the 12th minute. Jeremy Doku made a powerful surge into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful and low left-footed shot on goal. Martin Dubravka made a good save with his feet to deny Doku. Dubravka’s save fell into a dangerous area, and Maxime Estève deflected the ball into his own net to give Manchester City the lead. Phil Foden would have tapped the ball in if Estève didn’t knock the ball into his own net.

Martin Dubravka would prevent Jeremy Doku from making it 2-nil in the 23rd minute. Doku was played in by Erling Haaland, and the Belgian international made a surging run into the Burnley penalty area. He unleashed a stinging shot with his left foot that Dubravka saved. The rebound came out of the penalty area, and Nico hit a powerful shot that was deflected just wide by the Burnley defence.

Burnley equalise with their best move of the match.

Against the run of play, Burnley would equalise in the 38th minute. Scott Parker’s side crafted a dangerous move, and Quilindschy Hartman was picked out in acres of space on the left wing. Hartman played a quality ball from the left that found Jaidon Anthony. Anthony’s shot deflected off Ruben Dias and left Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded as it rolled into the net. Burnley’s goal had to be a wake-up call for Manchester City, who hadn’t been at their best after taking the lead.

1-all would be the score at halftime. Pep Guardiola’s side hadn’t been at their best after taking an early lead. Burnley had frustrated Manchester City, and as the first half wore on, they began to create their own openings. City would have to raise their level of play in the second half if they were to pick up three points against Scott Parker’s side.

Second half

Burnley would have the first shot of the second half. Scott Parker’s side had a quick counterattack, and Lyle Foster was picked out on the left-hand side in acres of space. Foster fired in a low drive with his right foot that deflected off Matheus Nunes and went just wide of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s far post. Lyle Foster’s shot was another warning to Pep Guardiola’s side that visitors did pack a punch when given space.

Quilindschy Hartman would have a long-range strike saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 56th minute. Another sweeping Burnley move found Hartman in acres of space on the left wing. Hartman hit a stinging low drive from 25 yards out that Donnarumma saved down to his right.

Matheus Nunes restores Manchester City’s lead!!!!!

Manchester City would take a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute. Phil Foden got played in, and he held the ball up superbly well in the Burnley penalty area. Foden laid the ball off for Josko Gvardiol to play a cross to the back post. Erling Haaland won a header, and his loopy header fell to Matheus Nunes, who fired a stinging volley from six yards out to give City the lead.

Another Maxime Estève own goal makes it 3-1 to Manchester City.

Manchester City would take a 3-1 lead in the 65th minute. Jeremy Doku made a driving run and picked out Phil Foden. Foden played the ball out wide to the right wing to Matheus Nunes. Nunes put in a quality ball and unlucky Burnley centre-back Maxime Estève beat Martin Dubravka with an unfortunate flick as he tried to prevent Oscar Bobb from shooting.

Manchester City’s third goal of the game did take the sting out of the contest. As the game entered the final five minutes it did seem that Pep Guardiola’s side had done enough to pick up all three points.

Erling Haaland makes it 4-1 as the game enters stoppage time.

It did seem that the game would end without incident. But that wouldn’t prove to be the case. Jeremy Doku was picked out on the left wing in acres of space. He played in a good low cross that Haaland got on the end of and he beat Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal with a clever left-footed volley. Haaland had been kept quiet for most of the match but he did end up with a goal and an assist.

There would be time for Erling Haaland to add another goal to make it 5-1.

Erling Haaland would make it 5-1 in the 93rd minute. A mix up between Burnley defenders Maxime Estève and Hjalmar Ekdal would see neither player deal with a high ball. They collided in midfield air and their attempted defensive headers fell behind them and played in Erling Haaland. Haaland would beat Dubravka with ease to make it 5-1 and bag a brace.

That would be the last incident of note from the match. Pep Guardiola’s side would pick up a 5-1 win which did seem a harsh result on Burnley.

First thoughts at the final whistle.

It is hard to properly assess Manchester City’s performance today. For the first hour of the match, Pep Guardiola’s side seemed to be laborious with their play. Burnley set up to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side and they did for the opening hour. But once Matheus Nunes gave City a 2-1 lead they never looked back. Their quality was the difference and that helped them pick up a 5-1 win. Manchester City are now unbeaten in five matches in all competitions as they are starting to put together a strong run of form.