Manchester City secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden delivering decisive performances. The win propelled City back into the Premier League’s top four, restoring confidence after their midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The match marked a challenging Premier League debut for £33.6 million signing Abdukodir Khusanov. The Uzbek defender, newly arrived from Lens, endured a difficult start as his early error gifted Chelsea the lead. Just four minutes in, a mishap with a bouncing ball and a failed back-header allowed Nicolas Jackson to set up Noni Madueke for a straightforward finish.
City responded with relentless attacking pressure. Omar Marmoush, another recent signing, tested Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez early, while Phil Foden struck the post with a fierce shot. Josko Gvardiol equalized shortly before halftime, capitalizing on a deflection from Marc Cucurella to slot home from a tight angle.
Pep Guardiola substituted Khusanov after 54 minutes, stabilizing City’s defense as they pressed for the lead. Erling Haaland delivered the breakthrough, demonstrating his instinctive finishing ability in the 68th minute. A long ball from Ederson found Haaland, who outmaneuvered Trevoh Chalobah and chipped the ball into an empty net after the Chelsea defender slipped.

Phil Foden sealed the victory in the closing minutes, latching onto a Haaland pass and finishing clinically.
Chelsea struggled to regain their foothold in the game despite their promising start. The defeat saw them drop out of the top four, highlighting their ongoing inconsistency.
The match showcased Manchester City’s resilience and attacking depth, with Haaland and Foden leading the charge. As Guardiola’s side aims for a sustained title challenge, this performance demonstrated their ability to recover from setbacks and capitalize on key moments.
This result reflects City’s depth and adaptability, as Guardiola continues to integrate new players while managing injuries to key defenders like Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias.
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