Manchester City 2, Everton…
October20October 20, 2025

Manchester City 2, Everton…

By In
Yahoo Football News

Manchester City 2 (Erling Haaland 58′, 63′)

Everton 0

Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Everton today at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland netting twice in the second half to extend Guardiola’s unbeaten run to eight matches.

Upon the announcement of the starting lineups for the match, Pep Guardiola made three alterations to the team that previously beat Brentford 1-0. Rodri, Josko Gvardiol, and Oscar Bobb were benched, with Nico, Nathan Ake, and Jeremy Doku stepping into the starting eleven.

First Half

The opening 10 minutes of the match were disjointed, with little rhythm displayed by either side. Manchester City appeared to be sluggish following the international break, while Everton started strong and would have been pleased with the initial period of play.

Everton came close to taking the lead in the 13th minute when Iliman Ndiaye intercepted a poor pass from Nathan Ake. He charged down the right wing and delivered a dangerous cross into the City box, but Beto failed to connect with the low delivery, squandering a promising opportunity and issuing a warning to Guardiola’s squad.

Shortly after, Savinho had a decent chance but sent his shot straight at Jordan Pickford after receiving a pass from Matheus Nunes.

Manchester City nearly struck the woodwork in the 24th minute, when Phil Foden’s corner glanced off Jake O’Brien’s head just before reaching Haaland, ricocheting off the crossbar with Pickford beaten.

Beto then had another opportunity in the 32nd minute but missed the target, scuffing a shot wide after being played in by Ndiaye. Fortunately for Beto, he was saved from embarrassment by an offside flag.

Both Teams Create Scoring Chances

Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a spectacular save to deny Iliman Ndiaye in the 41st minute. Following a counterattack initiated by Ndiaye, who dispossessed Jeremy Doku, he created space to shoot but was thwarted by Donnarumma’s reflexes as he tipped the strike over the crossbar.

In the next minute, City could have taken the lead themselves. Haaland initiated a counter, using his momentum to find Tijjani Reijnders. Reijnders laid it off to Doku, whose weak shot was comfortably saved by Pickford.

On the brink of halftime, Savinho found space on the right after a precise cross-field ball from Tijjani Reijnders but saw his shot comfortably saved by Pickford, keeping the score level at the break.

Second Half

The initial ten minutes of the second half mirrored the first, with City dominating possession yet lacking urgency, while Everton held their defensive shape effectively, frustrating Guardiola’s side. The performances of Savinho and Jeremy Doku indicated that substitutions might be on the horizon.

Erling Haaland Opens the Scoring!

The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute when Erling Haaland scored with a powerful header, courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Nico O’Reilly after being set up by Phil Foden. This well-executed move demonstrated City’s attacking prowess as Haaland found the net.

Haaland Strikes Again!

Just five minutes later, Haaland doubled Manchester City’s lead in the 63rd minute. A brilliant turn and pass from Foden from the middle to the left flank found Savinho in space. He picked out Haaland on the edge of the area, and Haaland executed a precise low finish past Pickford.

After Haaland’s second goal, the game lost its intensity, with few notable incidents until the 85th minute. The only concern was a minor injury to Nico O’Reilly, who fortunately returned to the match without serious consequence.

Haaland had opportunities to complete his hat trick in the game’s closing stages, but Pickford made several impressive saves to deny him. As the final whistle blew, Guardiola’s team celebrated a comfortable victory, extending their unbeaten streak to eight games.

Post-Match Reflections

Manchester City managed to secure another three points at the Etihad, though their performance wasn’t their finest, particularly in the first half where they appeared out of sync. However, Haaland showcased his prowess once again, scoring two quick goals that effectively deflated Everton’s spirit. With solid contributions from Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly, City heads into their upcoming Champions League fixture against Villarreal full of confidence.