Manchester City Triumphs in Preseason Finale
In an impressive finale to their preseason, Manchester City triumphed over Palermo with a convincing 3-0 victory, thanks to a standout performance from Tijjani Reijnders and an early goal from Erling Haaland. Unlike many of their Premier League rivals who opted for domestic matchups, Manchester City chose to face the Serie B side while gearing up for the new season.
Match Highlights
The match saw City take control early in the first half, with Haaland finding the net just 25 minutes in. The prolific striker expertly converted a pass from Rico Lewis, placing the ball in the bottom-left corner to give City the lead.
After the halftime break, City made a significant roster change, with coach Pep Guardiola implementing 10 substitutions, leaving only Haaland to recharge for the second half. Among the new faces was Reijnders, who made an immediate impact by securing his first goal for the club since his summer transfer from AC Milan. After receiving a well-placed pass from Savinho, he unleashed a powerful shot into the goal.
Haaland was eventually substituted after an hour, making way for 17-year-old Divine Mukasa, who made his senior debut. Mukasa quickly asserted his presence on the pitch, assisting Reijnders for his second goal of the night as the midfielder calmly finished another opportunity.
Looking Ahead
This match marked City’s lone outing of the preseason, especially following a surprising early exit from the Club World Cup last month at the hands of Al Hilal. Looking ahead, Manchester City is focused on their Premier League kickoff against Wolves on August 16, followed by their home opener against Tottenham on August 23.
