Image: from Manchester City X @ManCity
By Open Chronicle Sports
Crystal Palace 1–4 Manchester City
Premier League 2026/27 · Matchweek 2 · Selhurst Park
Manchester City arrived at Selhurst Park with a new manager, a reshaped team and the inevitable questions that accompany the beginning of another Premier League campaign. They left London with six points from six, four more goals on the board and an increasingly familiar message for the rest of the competition: the machinery may have changed, but City remain capable of making a football match disappear from their opponents.
Crystal Palace competed. At times, particularly during an encouraging opening and a brief second-half revival, they even threatened to make the evening uncomfortable. But City had Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
That was ultimately the difference.
Both scored twice as Enzo Maresca’s side won 4–1, turning what had briefly become a contest after Palace reduced the deficit into another demonstration of City’s ability to punish an opponent almost immediately after being challenged.
🎯🎯 Erling Haaland
🎯🎯 Rayan Cherki
🅰️🅰️ Phil FodenA successful night ✨ pic.twitter.com/BzWoFlzZCv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 28, 2026
Palace Start with Intent
The final score does not entirely describe the opening stages.
Palace began aggressively in Pierre Sage’s first competitive match at Selhurst Park. Eddie Nketiah forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into an early save after being released by Adam Wharton, while Daichi Kamada also found space before seeing an effort deflected over.
There was energy in Palace’s football and encouragement in the stands.
City, however, required only one clear opening to alter the direction of the evening.
In the 17th minute, Antoine Semenyo delivered from the left and Haaland attacked the cross with the authority that has defined so much of his Premier League career. His header beat Dean Henderson and gave City the lead. It was Haaland’s first league goal of the new campaign.
Palace responded rather than retreated.
Jørgen Strand Larsen headed narrowly wide from a Yéremy Pino delivery, while Tyrick Mitchell was also unable to capitalise on a headed opportunity.
There was enough resistance to suggest the match remained alive.
At half time, it was only 1–0.
🔥 FULL-TIME | PREMIER LEAGUE 🏆
🔵 Crystal Palace 1–4 Manchester City 🔵
⚽ 17' Erling Haaland
⚽ 54' Rayan Cherki
⚽ 56' Donnarumma (OG)
⚽ 59' Rayan Cherki
⚽ 84' Erling Haaland💙 City cruise to a convincing 4–1 victory!
Haaland with a brace. pic.twitter.com/2uRhvZ6ug7— Saviour Eyo (@Xavito2Mob) August 28, 2026
Then Cherki Took Control
Nine minutes after the restart came the moment that changed the tone of the game.
Rayan Cherki collected possession, moved through the Palace defence with remarkable close control and calmly finished beyond Henderson.
It was the kind of goal that transforms a promising performance into something more significant. Cherki was no longer simply participating in City’s attacking structure. He was beginning to dominate the match.
City led 2–0 after 54 minutes.
Palace, though, produced an immediate response.
Two minutes later, Pino struck a superb free kick towards the top corner. The ball ultimately went in off Donnarumma and was recorded as an own goal, reducing the deficit to 2–1. Selhurst Park came alive again.
For approximately three minutes, Palace could believe.
Then City answered.
Three Minutes That Defined the Match
The most revealing passage of the evening came not when City were comfortably ahead, but when their advantage had suddenly been threatened.
There was no prolonged period of uncertainty. No retreat. No attempt simply to protect the lead.
In the 59th minute, Cherki struck again.
His effort took a deflection on its way beyond Henderson, restoring City’s two goal advantage almost immediately after Palace had found a route back into the contest.
It was 3–1.
That sequence told its own story. Palace had worked hard to reopen the match. City required only minutes to close it again.
From there, the visitors controlled the evening with increasing authority.
Haaland Has the Final Word
Cherki had supplied the artistry. Haaland still wanted another goal.
With six minutes remaining, Phil Foden drove towards the Palace penalty area before releasing the Norwegian. From a difficult angle, Haaland drove his finish beyond Henderson and into the roof of the net.
The scoreboard now read 4–1.
Two goals for Haaland.
Two goals for Cherki.
Two victories from two Premier League matches for Maresca’s Manchester City.
It was an emphatic ending to a match that had contained periods of genuine Palace resistance.
Cherki Offers City Something Different
Haaland’s goals will inevitably command attention, but Cherki was arguably the evening’s defining player.
The Frenchman played with freedom, imagination and the confidence to attack defenders directly. His first goal demonstrated his ability in tight spaces. His second demonstrated City’s capacity to strike immediately when an opponent senses vulnerability.
For a Manchester City side entering a new tactical chapter under Maresca, that individual unpredictability could become particularly valuable.
City have long been associated with positional control and carefully constructed attacks. Cherki adds another possibility: the player capable of breaking the geometry of a defensive structure himself.
At Selhurst Park, Palace discovered how difficult that can be to contain.
Haaland Remains Haaland
There was also something reassuringly familiar about City’s other match winner.
Haaland did not need to dominate possession. He did not need dozens of touches. He simply occupied the spaces where the game could be decided.
A header in the first half.
A ruthless finish late in the second.
The Norwegian has started scoring again, and for City’s rivals that may be the most significant detail to emerge from the evening.
Palace Better Than the Scoreline, but Still Pointless
For Crystal Palace, the 4–1 scoreline is severe.
Sage’s side created openings, showed ambition and refused simply to defend their penalty area against one of the league’s strongest teams. Their early performance demonstrated that there are ideas to develop.
But Premier League matches against elite opposition are frequently determined by what happens after the critical moments.
Palace conceded after a competitive opening. More importantly, having fought their way back to 2–1, they allowed City to restore the two goal margin within three minutes.
That was the moment when the possibility of an upset disappeared.
Palace therefore leave their opening two matches without a point, while City have won both.
A Perfect Start for Maresca
Two matches are far too few from which to conclude about a Premier League season.
They are enough, however, to establish momentum.
Manchester City have six points from six and sit at the top end of the early table after beginning the campaign with consecutive victories.
More importantly, Maresca is already seeing different elements of his attack contribute.
Semenyo supplied the cross for Haaland’s opener. Foden was involved in the creation of two goals. Cherki produced the individual brilliance. Haaland supplied the finishing power.
There will be more difficult evenings ahead and much more evidence will be required before the shape of this new City can be fully understood.
At Selhurst Park, however, the early signs were imposing.
Palace made them work.
Cherki made the difference.
And Haaland made sure there was no way back.
Match Details
Crystal Palace 1–4 Manchester City
Goals: Gianluigi Donnarumma 56′ own goal; Erling Haaland 17′, 84′; Rayan Cherki 54′, 59′
Half time: Crystal Palace 0–1 Manchester City
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
Competition: Premier League 2026/27, Matchweek 2
Referee: Andy Madley