Manchester City faced Ipswich Town today in the Premier League, as the reigning champions aimed for an extraordinary five titles in a row by the end of the 2024/25 season.
Coming off an impressive 2-0 win against Chelsea, with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic, City hoped to continue their strong start to the season. Pep Guardiola also welcomed Ilkay Gundogan back to the squad, looking for the former captain to enhance the team’s midfield stability. It was uncertain, however, if Gundogan would take the field today.
Ipswich, on the other hand, made their return to the top flight following a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in their opening match. Despite a tough challenge ahead, the newly promoted side sought to upset the champions.
In a thrilling match, Manchester City triumphed over Ipswich with a score of 4-1, but not before having to come from behind. Ipswich surprised City by taking an early lead in the seventh minute, with Samuel Szmodics scoring on a counterattack. City quickly responded, equalizing with a penalty from Haaland just five minutes later after a foul in the box. Kevin De Bruyne then put City ahead, capitalizing on a mistake from Ipswich’s goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. Haaland scored his second shortly after, with a brilliant finish rounding the keeper. City controlled the match, hitting the woodwork twice, and capped off their performance with a third goal from Haaland in the closing minutes, securing his hat trick.
With this victory, City secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League this season. They will next face West Ham, while Ipswich seeks to earn their first points of the season when they host Fulham.
The match highlights included several yellow cards and substitutions, as both teams made tactical changes throughout the game. City dominated possession and showcased their attacking prowess, especially in the first half, where they initially struggled to convert more scoring opportunities.
Overall, City demonstrated their strength, leaving Ipswich still searching for points in their return to the Premier League.