City Watch: Blues make it five wins in a row

This week’s column is one I’ve been looking forward to writing following Manchester City’s two recent results. 

When I wrote City Watch last week, the game against Real Madrid was yet to be played, and by the time it was in the paper, the game would’ve taken place the night before.

If someone had offered me a guaranteed draw and point from the Bernabeu, I’d have snapped your hand off, especially given our last few results in the Spanish capital. 

So, to come out of that fixture, most definitely our toughest of the group stages, with a 2-1 win, despite Xabi Alonso’s side not being at their strongest, is an incredible result.

We did go 1-0 down to a first half Rodrygo goal, a player by the way who hasn’t scored in eight months, but he always seems to bag one against us, typical! 

However, from that moment on, it seemed inevitable that City would score. 

The equaliser came from an unlikely source, Nico O’Reilly, who was absolutely exceptional all round last week, and I would say his best performance in a City shirt. 

The goal itself was a rebound from a Courtois save, but Nico caused them so many problems leading up to the goal and after. 

He has an amazing eye to spot and find space, and this caused Madrid a nightmare all night.

Erling Haaland then won a penalty after Rudiger fouled him in the box, it was good to see that little battle continue after previous fixtures over the years. 

Erling slotted that away just before half time to give the Blues a lead at the break, which it remained until the match ended. 

City now sit fourth in the Champions League table, with only Bodo Glimt and Galatasaray remaining.

Pep and his team then travelled to the in form Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon for their fixture against Oliver Glasner’s side. 

The last time the two teams met was in the FA Cup Final, which Eberechi Eze scored in, beating the Blues. 

Thankfully, Eze isn’t a problem for us anymore after his move to Arsenal, however, with the South London side already sitting fourth in the table going into the game and having already beaten Liverpool at Selhurst Park, this was still going to be tough.

City are getting into a habit this season of beating teams who are on a good run of form by three goals to nil, we saw it against Bournemouth and Sunderland just last weekend, and lightning struck three times, because we walked out of South London with three points following a 3-0 win.

I thought Glasner’s side had us on the ropes for the first 20 minutes or so, they had some one on one clear chances to score and could’ve been 2-0 up themselves. 

However, Erling Haaland added to his tally yet again to make it 1-0 from a delicious Nunes cross.

He then bagged his 17th of the season in the Premier League from a penalty in the second half, which was the goal that wrapped up the 3-0 win. 

Before that, though, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden showcased their recent chemistry yet again, with Cherki running through about four Palace players to set up Foden with his signature turn outside the box and shoot.

The gap at the top remains at two points, with West Ham to come on the weekend at the Etihad. 

Before that though, City play Brentford in the League Cup on Wednesday night, and by the time this column is out, the Blues will know whether they’re headed to the Semi-Finals.