Late Haaland brace rounds off five-star victory over Burnley

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Manchester City F.C.

·27 settembre 2025

Late Haaland brace rounds off five-star victory over Burnley

A late Erling Haaland double allied to a brace of Maxime Esteve own goals and a Matheus Nunes strike fired City to a deserved 5-1 Etihad win over Burnley on our return to Premier League action.

City had taken a 12th minute lead via Esteve’s first own goal after initial fine work from Jeremy Doku.

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But against the run of the play, Scott Parker’s visitors then drew level seven minutes before the break thanks to a Jaidon Anthony strike.

However, City’s persistence and patience was rewarded on 61 minutes when Nunes fired home a brilliant 12-yard volley to restore our advantage.

And within four minutes the Blues pulled further ahead as the unfortunate Esteve again put into his own net under pressure from substitute Oscar Bobb just moments after the Norwegian had come on from the bench.

A fine afternoon's work was then rounded off when Haaland, who had provided the assist for Nunes, twice struck late on to take his tally for the season for club and country to a remarkable 13 goals and move City up to third in the table.

The brace also saw Erling power into the top 10 scorers in City’s history making it 133 goals in 153 appearances

His 92 and 93rd league efforts, it also meant he has now scored more Premier League goals than any other Norwegian, surpassing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The game in 250 words

City had come into the game seeking to build on the momentum of an unbeaten run since the September international break and wasted no time in taking an immediate stranglehold on the game.

And it was no surprise to see the Blues take a 12th minute lead with our first meaningful attack of the game thanks in the main to yet wing wizardry from a rejuvenated Jeremy Doku.

The Belgian winger has been in inspired form all season and was at his incisive best once again, turning the Clarets defence inside out with a searing run in from the left flank.

Though visiting keeper Martin Dubravka parried Doku’s shot, with Phil Foden closing in to fire home the rebound, a desperate lunge from Esteve only succeeded in steering the ball home past the helpless keeper.

With Doku in the mood once more, Dubravka then needed to be alert to keep out another searing drive from the wide man on 25 minutes.

But with former Ciy favourite Kyle Walker in fine form on his return to the Etihad, the visitors remained obdurate opponents and then levelled affairs on 38 minutes through Jaidon Anthony with their first meaningful attack.

Quilindschy Hartman was the architect with a driving run down the left and from his pinging cross, Anthony struck a first-time effort from 12 yards that took a key deflection off Ruben Dias past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The City keeper was then called into action 10 minutes after the restart, diving low to keep out Hartman’s goalbound drive.

But City kept our patient and composed approach and were rewarded on 61 minutes as Nunes struck in fine style to restore our advantage.

Haaland was the architect, his net nod down from Tijjani Reijnders’ cross being met by a ferocious Nunes volley that rifled into the roof of the net.

Within four minutes we had further extended our advantage.

Substitute Oscar Bobb met an inviting Nunes cross with virtually his first touch of the ball and the unfortunate Esteve could only divert the shot past Dubravka.

And a fine second half showing was then rounded off late on with Haaland - who else - also getting in on the scoring act.

His first on 89 minutes was a trademark poacher's finish before he then capitalised on a Burnley error to round off a thoroughly deserved win.

Teams

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (c), Gvardiol (Ake 70), O’Reilly (Lewis 82), Nico, Reijnders (Bernardo 82), Savinho (Bobb 62), Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Kovacic, McAidoo, Mukasa.

BURNLEY XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Florentino, Cullen (c) (Ugochukwu 80) , Tchaouna, Anthony, Foster (Broja 80)

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Humphreys,Flemming, Pires, Hannibal

Att: 52,427

Star man

Jeremy Doku enjoyed another fine afternoon's work to maintain the finest spell of his City career to date.

A threat every time he received the ball, the Belgian helped create City's opener and caused constant panic in the Burnley ranks.

High fives

Fresh from signing his new long term contract Nico O’Reilly was handed a starting berth for the fifth successive game.

And once again the Academy graduate demonstrated just why he is so highly regarded by Pep Guardiola and the City coaching staff.

He produced another display full of verve and composure, allied to his superb technical skills.

And the great thing is at the age of 20, Nico is only going to get even better looking to the long term.

100 up

A second half showing from the bench saw fellow Academy graduate Rico Lewis chalk up his 100th City appearance.

It's another fantastic landmark for the youngster who has gone from strength to strength since making his senior breakthrough in 2022.

NUNES reaction

"We shouldn't concede a goal, that's what we take from this game. It was a difficult game but we controlled it better in the second half. It was a good victory.

"We are still trying to reach the level we used to be with control in every game. We want to win every game but sometimes it isn't easy. We will get there."

Pep’s reaction

"I am optimistic - but not for the 5-1. In the locker room and in training, many things. We are creating good team spirit with my staff and the players and it finished with late goals.

"The game was tough and we could not build up. We started well but it was tough. Nico O’Reilly started the second half with a movement that sent a message.

"Erling is an important figure for us. Dubravka made good saves but we always have the feeling he can score. I am really pleased since the United game that we show another way with our body language even when not playing well, that’s the key for everything."