Rayan Cherki scores twice and Erling Haaland adds a brace as Manchester City make it two wins from two under Enzo Maresca
Premier League 2026-27 | Full Time: Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City | Selhurst Park | Friday, August 28, 2026
Manchester City continued their perfect start to the 2026-27 Premier League season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both scored twice as Enzo Maresca’s side followed up their opening-day win over Bournemouth with another convincing three points.
For Palace, there were encouraging moments during an energetic first half, particularly in the opening stages, but Pierre Sage’s side ultimately could not withstand City’s attacking quality. Yéremy Pino’s excellent free-kick briefly gave the hosts hope after the break, only for Cherki to restore City’s two-goal advantage almost immediately.
Haaland Puts Manchester City Ahead
Crystal Palace started with plenty of intent and created early opportunities. Eddie Nketiah tested Gianluigi Donnarumma inside the opening minutes, while Daichi Kamada also found space in City’s defensive third. At the other end, Dean Henderson produced an excellent save to deny Elliot Anderson.
City gradually began to take control, and their pressure produced the opening goal in the 17th minute. Antoine Semenyo delivered a dangerous cross and Haaland rose to meet it, producing a precise header beyond Henderson.
The goal was Haaland’s first of the new Premier League campaign and once again demonstrated the Norwegian striker’s ability to punish opponents when City create opportunities from wide areas.
Palace continued to threaten, however. Tyrick Mitchell headed wide from a promising position, while Strand Larsen also came close. City went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, but the hosts had enough attacking moments to suggest the contest was far from finished.
Cherki Takes Control After the Break
The second half changed the game.
Rayan Cherki doubled City’s advantage in the 54th minute after receiving the ball from Phil Foden. The French attacker showed excellent close control, worked his way through the Palace defense and finished past Henderson.
It was the type of individual moment that highlighted why Cherki has quickly become one of the most intriguing attacking players in Maresca’s new-look City side. After assisting twice in City’s opening league game, Cherki now had his first Premier League goals of the season.
Palace responded almost immediately. Pino stepped up for a free-kick from around 25 yards and produced a superb strike that hit the crossbar before rebounding into Donnarumma and into the net. The goal was officially recorded as an own goal for the City goalkeeper, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
But any Palace momentum lasted only a few minutes.
Cherki struck again in the 59th minute, restoring City’s two-goal cushion with another impressive finish. His second goal effectively ended Palace’s hopes of mounting a comeback and completed a memorable individual performance.
Haaland Adds the Finishing Touch
City remained dangerous as the game entered its final stages, with Foden continuing to influence proceedings from attacking areas.
The fourth goal arrived in the 84th minute. Foden produced the opportunity for Haaland, who finished with his left foot to complete his brace and put the result beyond any doubt.
The Norwegian’s two goals also continued his strong record against Palace, while giving City another reminder of the value of having a world-class finisher leading the attack.
By the final whistle, Manchester City had secured a comprehensive 4-1 victory and six points from their opening two league matches.
Rayan Cherki Emerges as the Star
While Haaland’s two goals will dominate the headline, Cherki was arguably City’s standout performer.
The Frenchman was involved throughout the attacking phase, combining creativity with direct running and the confidence to take defenders on. His first goal was particularly eye-catching, as he navigated his way through Palace’s defensive structure before finding the finish.
After providing two assists against Bournemouth on the opening weekend, Cherki has now followed that performance with two goals. His rapid impact gives Maresca another attacking weapon alongside Haaland, Foden and the club’s other creative options.
Palace Show Promise but Lack Consistency
Despite the heavy defeat, Palace were not completely overwhelmed from the opening whistle.
Sage’s team started aggressively and created several chances during the first half. Nketiah, Kamada and Mitchell all found promising positions, while Palace’s atmosphere at Selhurst Park gave the hosts an early lift.
The problem was their inability to sustain that pressure.
Once City established control of possession and began finding space between Palace’s defensive and midfield lines, the difference in attacking quality became increasingly obvious. Palace’s response after going 2-1 down was also too brief, with Cherki’s second goal arriving only three minutes after Pino’s free-kick.
The defeat means Palace have now lost their opening two Premier League matches under new manager Pierre Sage.
Maresca’s City Start Perfectly
For Maresca, the result represents an ideal beginning to his Premier League tenure at Manchester City.
City opened the campaign with a 2-1 comeback win against Bournemouth before producing a significantly more convincing performance at Selhurst Park. Two victories from two matches give City six points and early momentum as the new manager begins to establish his style.
The performance was also notable because City showed multiple ways of hurting Palace. Haaland provided the finishing power, Cherki supplied individual brilliance, Foden contributed creatively and Semenyo helped create the opening goal.
There were still defensive concerns, particularly when Palace found room in the first half, but City’s attacking depth ultimately proved decisive.
What the Result Means
Manchester City’s victory sends an early signal that the post-Pep Guardiola era could develop into something very different under Maresca. The team looked willing to give its attacking players freedom to make decisions in the final third, with Cherki particularly benefiting from that approach.
Palace, meanwhile, have plenty to address. Their first-half performance showed that Sage’s side can compete for periods, but defensive organization and attacking efficiency remain concerns.
The Eagles will need a much more consistent performance in the coming weeks if they are to avoid allowing a difficult opening stretch to define their season.
Final Score
Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City
Goals: Haaland 17′, Cherki 54′, Donnarumma OG 56′, Cherki 59′, Haaland 84′
Manchester City now have maximum points from their opening two Premier League matches, while Crystal Palace remain without a point after their first two games.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Match Preview: Team News, Key Battles and Match Prediction
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City headlines Friday night’s Premier League action as Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park looking to make it two wins from two under new manager Enzo Maresca, while Crystal Palace hope to turn their home opener into a statement performance.
Manchester City began the 2026–27 campaign with a 2–1 comeback victory over Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace suffered a 2–0 defeat away to Everton on the opening weekend. That leaves Palace under early pressure as they prepare for a difficult first home assignment against one of the league’s strongest sides.
The fixture also carries an interesting tactical subplot. Both clubs are adapting to new managers, with Pierre Sage taking charge of Palace and Maresca beginning his Manchester City tenure. The meeting at Selhurst Park therefore offers an early indication of how quickly both teams are adjusting to their new approaches.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Match Details
Competition: Premier League 2026–27
Match: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
Round: Matchweek 2
The official Crystal Palace fixture listing confirms the match at Selhurst Park, with kick-off listed for 19:00 UTC.
Palace Looking for a Response at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace enter the match with plenty to prove.
Their 2–0 defeat against Everton left Pierre Sage’s team without a point after the opening weekend, and the French manager now faces a considerably more demanding test in his first home Premier League game at Selhurst Park.
Palace’s recent form listed by the club stands at L-L-D-L-D, highlighting the difficulty of their start to the campaign. Manchester City’s corresponding sequence is considerably stronger at W-L-D-W-W.
Despite the poor opening result, Palace have reasons for optimism. Their home record was one of the more encouraging aspects of the previous campaign, and Selhurst Park can become an uncomfortable environment for visiting teams when Palace establish their intensity early.
Sage will therefore need his players to be more clinical in possession while also limiting the spaces Manchester City’s attacking players can exploit.
The Palace manager has also been dealing with uncertainty around several important players. The futures and availability of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr have become part of the wider transfer-window story surrounding the club, while defensive options have also required attention.
That uncertainty makes Friday’s game even more challenging.
Manchester City Target Another Victory
Manchester City arrive in south London with confidence after beginning the season with a 2–1 victory over Bournemouth.
The result was not entirely straightforward, but City showed the ability to recover from a difficult position and eventually secure three points. New manager Enzo Maresca will now want his team to produce a more controlled performance against Palace.
Manchester City’s opening-weekend victory means they currently sit among the teams with three points, while Palace are still searching for their first point of the campaign.
City’s attacking quality remains the obvious concern for Palace.
The visitors have multiple ways of creating chances, and their ability to maintain possession can force opponents into long defensive spells. If Palace lose their defensive structure, City have the technical quality to exploit even small gaps.
Rayan Cherki also made an encouraging start to life at City, providing two assists against Bournemouth and offering another creative option for Maresca’s attack.
Manchester City’s Strong Recent Record Against Palace
Recent head-to-head history strongly favors Manchester City.
The two clubs have met 26 times in the league during the period listed by Crystal Palace, with City winning 18, Palace winning 3, and the remaining 5 matches ending in draws.
The most recent league meeting was particularly convincing for City.
Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium on May 13, 2026, with Savinho scoring late after City had established control of the contest.
The previous meeting at Selhurst Park, on December 14, 2025, also ended in a 3–0 Manchester City victory.
That history gives City considerable psychological advantage heading into Friday’s contest.
However, Palace’s famous victory in the 2025 FA Cup final serves as a reminder that recent league dominance does not guarantee success in a one-off match.
Palace’s Defensive Challenge
One of the biggest questions for Crystal Palace will be how they handle City’s possession.
Palace cannot afford to retreat too deeply for long periods. Doing so would allow City to establish sustained pressure around the penalty area and repeatedly move the ball from side to side.
Instead, Palace will likely need periods of aggressive pressing combined with a compact defensive block.
Marc Guéhi could again be particularly important to Palace’s structure. His ability to defend space, step into midfield and contribute to buildup could help Palace escape pressure and launch counter-attacks.
The Guardian has highlighted the possibility of Guéhi featuring in midfield again, while Palace continue to deal with squad changes and the uncertainty surrounding the final days of the transfer window.
The Key Battle: Palace Counter-Attacks vs City’s Possession
The tactical battle could determine the outcome.
Manchester City are likely to dominate possession, but Palace’s best opportunities may come immediately after winning the ball.
If Palace can force City into turnovers, their attackers will have opportunities to attack spaces behind the visiting midfield and defensive line.
The problem is that those counter-attacks need to be efficient.
Against Everton, Palace were unable to turn their opportunities into goals. Against City, they may not receive many chances, meaning every promising attack becomes more valuable.
For Maresca, the challenge is different.
City need to avoid becoming vulnerable to transitions. Their possession-heavy approach can become dangerous if Palace recover the ball with several players already positioned high up the pitch.
Players to Watch
Rayan Cherki — Manchester City
Cherki is one of the most intriguing players to watch after his impressive Premier League debut.
His two assists against Bournemouth demonstrated the creative quality he can bring to City’s attack. Palace will need to prevent him from receiving the ball between the lines and turning toward goal.
Erling Haaland — Manchester City
Haaland remains City’s biggest threat in front of goal.
Palace’s center-backs cannot afford to lose concentration when City enter the final third. Even when Haaland does not receive the ball frequently, his movement can create space for City’s other attackers.
Marc Guéhi — Crystal Palace
Guéhi’s versatility could be crucial.
Whether deployed centrally or used higher up the pitch, his defensive awareness and ability to progress the ball could give Palace an important advantage during transitions.
Adam Wharton — Crystal Palace
Wharton’s ability to dictate Palace’s first pass after recovering possession could become vital.
If Palace are forced to defend for extended periods, their transition from defense to attack will depend heavily on midfielders capable of finding forward passes quickly.
Team News and Selection Questions
Crystal Palace have several issues to monitor before kick-off.
Pierre Sage has been managing concerns surrounding Sarr, Riad and Axel Disasi, while the club also continues to navigate transfer uncertainty. Palace’s official pre-match material highlighted Sage’s updates on those players ahead of the City game.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are still establishing their preferred XI under Maresca.
The opening victory over Bournemouth gives the new manager a positive foundation, but the trip to Selhurst Park provides a significantly different tactical test.
The final team selections will therefore be important, particularly in midfield and the wide attacking positions.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Prediction
Manchester City enter the match as the stronger side on paper.
Their superior recent head-to-head record, stronger opening-weekend result and greater attacking depth make them the obvious favorites.
However, Palace should not be dismissed.
Playing at Selhurst Park can change the atmosphere and intensity of the contest, while a Palace side desperate for its first point of the season could make the opening stages extremely uncomfortable for City.
The most likely scenario is City controlling possession while Palace attempt to create opportunities through quick transitions.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester City
A narrow City victory appears the most plausible outcome, although Palace have enough attacking quality to make the visitors work for all three points. A similar 1–2 prediction has also been made by Sports Mole, which expects Palace to find the net but City to have enough firepower to win.
Why This Match Matters
Although it is only the second round of the Premier League season, the fixture carries significance for both managers.
For Sage, a positive result against Manchester City would immediately change the mood around Selhurst Park after the defeat at Everton.
For Maresca, another victory would provide an ideal start to his City tenure and strengthen the belief that the club can challenge for the Premier League title after a difficult recent period.
Manchester City are also attempting to re-establish themselves at the top of English football after going through a period without the league title. A strong opening to the season could be crucial to that ambition.
Palace, meanwhile, have European football ahead of them and need consistency if they are to balance domestic competition with their continental commitments.
Final Verdict
Crystal Palace have the home advantage, but Manchester City possess the stronger squad, better recent league record in this fixture and greater attacking depth.
Palace’s route to victory is clear: defend compactly, disrupt City’s buildup and make their counter-attacking opportunities count.
City will look to do the opposite — dominate possession, move Palace’s defensive block around and use their individual quality to create openings.
The result could ultimately come down to which team executes its preferred style more effectively.
For now, Manchester City have the edge, but Selhurst Park gives Crystal Palace a realistic chance of turning the match into a much closer contest than the recent head-to-head record suggests.
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