City see off Palermo challenge to win Anglo Palermitan Trophy

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Manchester City F.C.

·9 Agustus 2025

City see off Palermo challenge to win Anglo Palermitan Trophy

City are primed and ready for the new Premier League season after a 3-0 win over Palermo in Sicily.

Erling Haaland and a Tijjani Reijnders brace made the difference as we lifted the Anglo Palermitan Trophy in its first ever iteration.

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Pep Guardiola used all 22 players that travelled in a bid to get his squad in shape for the start of the campaign in earnest next weekend.

City were truly made to feel like guests of honour on the night, with fans, players and staff from our CFG sister club going out of their way to put on a show for Guardiola’s side and our pocket of travelling supporters.

The game in 250 words

After a breathtaking pre-match show that included an Italian popstar, Oasis banners and a combined team photo, the game kicked off to a cacophony of sound from the Renzo Barbera crowd.

Palermo defender Pietro Ceccaroni had the first major chance of the night, nodding a corner millimetres wide of James Trafford’s near post just three minutes in.

We warmed into the game from that point, settling into our familiar passing rhythm and pushing the Serie B side back.

That eventually told in the 25th minute when Erling Haaland collected Rico Lewis’ pass on his left foot and struck low and hard with his right.

We could have added to our advantage before the break, with John Stones, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush all coming close - but the best chance fell to Rayan Cherki, who saw his shot deflected narrowly wide.

Pep made 10 changes to his side at the break and those fresh legs gave us new impetus in the second half, with Tijjani Reijnders scoring our second on the cusp of the hour.

Breezing into space on the right of the box, he needed one touch to set himself before unleashing an unstoppable effort across the diving Alfred Gomis.

The hosts didn’t take kindly to our second, going close twice in quick succession with shots narrowly over the bar.

Reijnders almost had his second in a similar vein, only to this time see Gomis get a strong hand to the ball.

He had the last laugh though, bursting through the heart of the Palermo defence and rolling the ball home to end the scoring on the night.

Key take-aways

#1 Trafford's start

James Trafford has had to wait a long time to feature in senior football for City.

The 22-year-old came through our Academy before joining Burnley and setting a host of records in the Championship last season.

He set his stall from the outset in terms of playing with the ball at his feet, taking his time to pick the right pass and get moves started.

It may have only been 45 minutes, but the run out will have done him the world of good in terms of getting his first appearance ticked off.

#2 A great occasion

From the moment we landed in Sicily on Friday evening, it was clear the people of Palermo were very happy to be hosting us.

Whether it was the excitement in the streets during the day or the loud cheer our players got when they first stepped foot on the pitch, the locals were delighted to have us.

The outstanding moment for any City fan, spine-tingling almost, came just before the players walked out as a huge banner, showing Noel and Liam Gallagher in Palermo kits was unfurled over the heads of the ultras in the Curva Nord.

When tied in with Palermo's 125th anniversary celebrations, Rose Villain's pre-match show and the first game for new boss Filippo Inzaghi, it all made for a memorable night at a spectacular setting.

Match highlights

These will follow here shortly.

As a result…

City are the winners of the first ever Anglo Palermitan Trophy.

As well as a handy boost to confidence and fitness before the new Premier League campaign, it's piece of silverware.

Outstanding performer

Tijjani Reijnders - The Dutch international came into the game at the midway point and immediately looked in control.

Speaking on Friday, he stated his willingness to play in any role Pep asks of him.

Given the prolific nature of his two finishes here, you'd have to imagine he'll be told to get into the box regularly as his City career goes on.

Guardiola verdict

On Tijjani Reijnders: "We knew that he is a special player arriving into the box. He loves to do that. People in Italy know him perfectly. He scored two goals and he made a fantastic performance like the rest of his mates."

On the occasion: "I said to the manager, thank you from the bottom of my heart to the people of Palermo. It was amazing. It was like being at a home game not an away game. One hour before the game seeing it already full was amazing."

On the summer: "I am happy since the USA and our World Cup. Our vibes there were really good. We could not control the transition against Al Hilal but the players were really good there. We wanted to stay longer, not just to play Chelsea, but to build more of what we want to do. Instead we had one more week of holidays, we didn’t want to play too many games."

Teams

CITY XI: Trafford (Ederson 46), Lewis (Nunes 46), Khusanov (Dias 46), Stones (Ake 46), Ait-Nouri (Akanji 46), Nico (Gundogan 46), O’Reilly (Reijnders 46), Bobb (Savinho 46), Cherki (Bernardo 46), Marmoush (Doku 46), Haaland (C) (Mukasa 70)

PALERMO XI: Gomis, Augello (Peda 60), Gomes (Vasic 60), Segre (Pierozzi 60), Brunori (C) (Corona 60), Ranocchia (Blin 60), Gyasi, Bani (Palumbo 60), Pohjanpalo (Le Douaron 60), Diakite, Ceccaroni (Avena 80)

Subs: Bardi, Cutrona, Di Bartolo, Nicolosi, Squillacioti, Brutto