Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park and did something that usually separates good teams from truly great ones: they suffered, absorbed pressure, created very little and still finished the job. It was a win in the 16th round of the Premier League. In a demanding week that included an away victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s side left London with three points, 34 in total, and the sense that they’re very much alive in the title race, just two points behind Arsenal.
The scoreline can fool anyone who didn’t watch the match. Palace competed, hit the post in both halves, pushed forward and made City uncomfortable for long stretches. But when the opening appeared, City didn’t miss.
Limited chances, ruthless efficiency and Haaland being Haaland
Erling Haaland finished the game with just two shots. Both ended up in the net. In the 41st minute of the first half, he rose unmarked to head home after a pinpoint cross from Matheus Nunes. Late on, he calmly converted a penalty won by Savinho, sending Henderson the wrong way. That takes him to 17 goals in 16 Premier League games, the league’s clear top scorer, and 23 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions this season.
Between Haaland’s goals, Phil Foden delivered in his own way. In the 23rd minute of the second half, he received the ball after an individual run by Rayan Cherki and fired a powerful shot from outside the box, leaving no chance for the goalkeeper. It was the kind of goal that breaks an opponent’s momentum just as they’re starting to grow into the game. Palace tried to respond, but from that moment on, the contest was essentially settled.
Guardiola, identity and a City still taking shape
After the match, Pep Guardiola went straight to the point when describing the win. “Today was tough, relentless is the word. It took a lot of work,” he said. The City manager made sure to recognize the opponent’s quality, pointing to Palace’s physical strength, their transition game and defensive organization. He also placed the performance in context after the emotional toll of the win in Madrid. “It was a really difficult game, and we knew it would be, especially after such an emotionally draining match in Madrid.”
Beyond the result, Guardiola spoke about process and identity. “Be yourself, it’s not about winning or losing,” he stressed, before adding, “There’s no point in playing soccer if you’re not being who you are, either as an individual or as a team.” The message helps explain why this City side, even with a renewed squad and some inconsistency, continues to compete at a high level. Guardiola knows there’s still room to grow, and he admitted as much. “We’re not at the top yet, but we’re learning.”