Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Tijani Reijnders shine in 3-0 win over Palermo

Economic Times

3 days ago

PALERMO, ITALY - AUGUST 09: Players of Palermo FC and Manchester City FC after Pre-Season Friendly match between Palermo FC and Machester City FC at Stadio Renzo Barbera on August 09, 2025 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by)
Synopsis Manchester City secured a decisive victory over Palermo in a recent club friendly, with a final score of 3-0. The match, played at the Renzo Barbera stadium, saw City dominate in key statistical areas and showcase a strong performance, particularly from forward Erling Haaland and midfielder Tijani Reijnders. This detailed football match report provides a neutral analysis of the game, including player performances, substitutions, and comprehensive match stats Manchester City's control of the game was evident across the board. The team's offensive pressure resulted in 13 total shots, with eight of those on target, highlighting their clinical approach. In contrast, Palermo managed nine total shots, with only three hitting the target. This disparity in shot accuracy directly influenced the final score. Beyond scoring opportunities, Manchester City's possession-based strategy was highly effective, as they maintained control for 70 per cent of the game compared to Palermo's 29 per cent. This dominance in possession translated to a significant difference in passing; Man City completed 660 passes with a 95 per cent accuracy rate, while Palermo executed 277 passes with an 81 per cent accuracy rate. The match stats underscore Man City's tactical superiority.
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The scoring began early for Manchester City, with Erling Haaland finding the back of the net in the 25th minute. This early goal set the tone for the match. In the second half, midfielder Tijani Reijnders extended City's lead with two goals. His first goal came in the 59th minute, assisted by Sávio, and his second was a late goal at the 82nd minute, with Divine Mukasa providing the assist. These goals by Reijnders solidified the victory for Man City.
Also read: Arsenal suffers 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in friendly clash days ahead of Premier League season kickoff; chMultiple substitutions occurred throughout the game. For Man City, at the start of the second half, Bernardo Silva replaced Rayan Cherki and goalkeeper Ederson came in for James Trafford. At the 60-minute mark, Divine Mukasa was substituted in for Erling Haaland, a noteworthy change that saw the goalscorer exit the match.Palermo's substitutions were also extensive, primarily occurring around the 60-minute mark. Players such as Giacomo Corona, Alexis Blin, Niccolò Pierozzi, Antonio Palumbo, Aljosa Vasic, and Jérémy Le Douaron were all brought on to try and change the dynamic of the football match.
ADVERTISEMENT Match facts and player discipline The match report details a number of other key events. Palermo committed 13 fouls and received one yellow card, which was given to midfielder Emmanuel Gyasi in the 68th minute. Man City, in comparison, committed 10 fouls and received no yellow or red cards. Both teams maintained a clean sheet in terms of red cards. Palermo had four offsides calls against them, while Man City had none. Palermo was also awarded four corners to Man City's three. The managers for the respective teams were F. Inzaghi for Palermo and Pep Guardiola for Man City.
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