After securing a win in their previous match, Pep Guardiola’s team has lost their way again.
Following a string of defeats, Manchester City managed to win their last match, aiming to maintain that momentum. However, they stumbled again against Crystal Palace. Despite twice coming from behind, they couldn’t find the winning goal.
In a Premier League match at Palace’s ground on Saturday, City found themselves reduced to 10 men late in the game, and at one point, they even faced the prospect of defeat. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
City fell behind early with a goal from Daniyel Munoz, but Erling Haaland equalized for the visitors. In the second half, City found themselves trailing again after Meksan Lekhoa’s goal, but they bounced back when Rico Lewis scored to level the score. However, 20-year-old Lewis was later shown a red card, and City could do nothing more with a man down.
After suffering four consecutive league defeats and seven winless matches across all competitions, City had finally secured a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last Wednesday. But just three days later, they dropped points again.
The match took a shocking turn in the 4th minute when Crystal Palace stunned the champions. Will Hughes played a one-two pass with a teammate and then delivered a brilliant ball to the right, where Munoz latched onto it and scored with a precise shot into the bottom corner. Stefan Ortega made an attempt to save, but he couldn’t stop the goal.
City’s first real chance to equalize came in the 23rd minute, but luck wasn’t on their side. Ilkay Gündoğan’s curling shot from distance hit the post, and Savinho’s follow-up effort just missed the target.
In the 29th minute, City nearly conceded again. Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma had an open shot in the box, but Ruben Dias made a crucial block to deny him.
The game was back-and-forth, with City finally getting the goal they needed in the 31st minute. Mateus Nunes delivered a cross into the box, and Haaland leapt to score with a header, bringing the team level.
Palace, having had only one shot on target in the first half, came out strong in the second. In the 56th minute, they capitalized on a corner from Hughes, and Lekhoa headed the ball past Ortega to put Palace ahead again.
However, City fought back once more. In the 68th minute, after receiving a pass from Bernardo Silva, Lewis fired a powerful shot into the net, equalizing at 2-2.
As the game progressed, City grew more desperate in search of a winner. However, in the 84th minute, they suffered a major setback. Trevor Shalaba fouled in Palace’s box, and Lewis was given his second yellow card, sending him off with a red card.
In the remaining minutes, City couldn’t find a way to grab a winner. The team that has dominated the Premier League in recent years failed to seal the win.
With eight wins and three draws from 15 matches, City sits in 4th place with 27 points. Liverpool, with one match fewer, leads the table with 35 points.
Crystal Palace, with just 13 points from 15 matches, are in 16th place.
