Haaland strikes as Man City sink Palace

Pep Guardiola’s facet struggled to interrupt down Palace till Haaland netted from the spot with 12 minutes left at rain-lashed Selhurst Park.

Haaland’s thirty fourth aim in all competitions since becoming a member of from Borussia Dortmund final yr was sufficient to seal City’s fifth win of their final six league video games.

Having saved the stress on Arsenal, the champions will hope Mikel Arteta’s males slip up once they journey to Fulham for his or her sport in hand on Sunday.

City weren’t at their fluent greatest however the hard-fought victory was important to cease Arsenal transferring additional into the space within the title race.

Now Haaland and firm will deal with the second leg of their Champions League final 16 conflict towards Leipzig in Manchester on Tuesday, with the tie delicately balanced at 1-1.

Palace are on the longest present winless run within the Premier League, failing to take most factors from any of their 10 video games in 2023, a dismal sequence that leaves them simply 4 factors above the relegation zone.

Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker on the bench, the latter’s exile coming simply days after police launched an investigation into allegations the England defender indecently uncovered himself in a bar.

City made a powerful begin as Rodri’s highly effective volley was parried by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.

Ruben Dias’s try to show within the rebound was blocked by Jeffrey Schlupp earlier than Jack Grealish shot simply huge moments later.

City have been practically caught out when Manuel Akanji was compelled to race again to dam Wilfried Zaha’s shot after Phil Foden carelessly surrendered possession.

 

– Haaland strikes –

 

Guardiola has claimed Foden is again to his greatest after a tough season for the England playmaker.

However Foden struggled within the first half and Guardiola was on his ft barking at his star when his misplaced move went straight to Palace’s Luka Milivojevic.

Haaland scored his first Premier League hat-trick towards Palace in August as City got here from two targets down at half-time to win 4-2.

Haaland ought to have put City forward halfway by the primary half within the rematch, however he clipped over from six yards after Nathan Ake’s cross picked him out.

The Norway striker threatened once more with a low cross-shot that Guaita blocked on the close to submit, with the rebound drilled huge by Haaland.

City maintained their territorial management within the second half and Jack Grealish shortly gained a free-kick, from which Foden’s 25-yard strike drew a great save from Guaita.

Julian Alvarez, despatched on rather than Foden, squandered a golden alternative to interrupt the impasse as the Argentine World Cup winner blazed over after his nimble flip opened up the Palace defence.

Alvarez’s long-range effort was too near Guaita quickly afterwards, however City’s stress was mounting and so they struck within the 78th minute.

Michael Olise’s rash problem on Ilkay Gundogan was dominated a penalty and Haaland stepped as much as ship Guaita the flawed means from the spot.

Haaland wasted an opportunity to kill off Palace when he headed over from Grealish’s cross.

That miss meant City needed to survive a nervous finale, with Ederson saving from Eberechi Eze, earlier than they may lastly exhale.