Key Points
- Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park to win their second straight game to open the Premier League season.
- Rayan Cherki scored two second-half goals in five minutes during his first Premier League start of the season.
- Erling Haaland scored twice, heading in the opener in the 17th minute and adding his second in the 84th minute.
- City manager Enzo Maresca praised Cherki’s performance, pointing to his defensive pressing and work off the ball.
- Crystal Palace briefly leveled the score at 1-1 in the 56th minute when a Yeremy Pino free-kick hit the post and went in off City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for an own goal.
- Palace remain without a point after two matches under new manager Pierre Sage.
Crystal Palace FC (South London News) August 29, 2026 —As reported by ESPN and GOAL.com, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca described Rayan Cherki’s display as “complete” after the French playmaker scored twice to guide his side to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Friday evening. The 23-year-old French midfielder earned his first Premier League start of the season following an influential substitute appearance the previous weekend.
City opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Antoine Semenyo delivered a cross for Erling Haaland, who directed a header over Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Phil Foden missed opportunities to extend the lead before half-time, failing to convert passes from Elliot Anderson and Cherki.
Palace threatened early in the second period through Eddie Nketiah before Cherki took control of the match. In the 54th minute, Foden set up Cherki, who dribbled past three Palace defenders before finishing into the far corner.
Palace briefly cut the deficit two minutes later when a free-kick from Yeremy Pino hit the post and rebounded into the net off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Cherki responded in the 59th minute, striking from the edge of the penalty area past Henderson to restore a two-goal cushion. Haaland rounded off the scoring in the 84th minute, drilling a low shot from an acute angle following a pass from Foden.
As reported by ESPN, Enzo Maresca stated:
“For sure he’s happy his performance was very good, not because of the two goals but how he worked off the ball. He was in charge of pressing when Palace had the ball. It was a complete game, on and off the ball.”
Maresca further added:
“He loves football so it’s much more easy to work with him. He’s Rayan, he’s like this. We know how good he is, the quality he has. In this moment he’s helping the team, and will do in the future.”
As reported by Associated Press reporter Steve Douglas via Hindustan Times, Cherki expressed a desire to keep his place in the lineup: “When I see Enzo Maresca wanted to change me I didn’t like that, so I had to show him I wanted to play and wanted to score. With Pep Guardiola we had a big history. Now we have started another story. We have to prove that every week, and we are here for that.”
As reported by the Associated Press, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton reflected on his side’s tactical adjustments under new manager Pierre Sage: “I thought we had good moments but we didn’t test their keeper enough, like we should have. It is a disappointing result. We are trying to work every day and implement the gaffer’s way of playing in and out of possession.”
Background of the particular development after the news
This victory marks a solid start for Enzo Maresca following his arrival at Manchester City ahead of the campaign, recording back-to-back league wins after an opening weekend 2-1 victory over Bournemouth. The squad transition follows the departure of Pep Guardiola, under whom Cherki spent his debut season at the club after joining from Lyon.
Palace are navigating their own managerial transition following the appointment of Pierre Sage in June as the successor to Oliver Glasner. The Eagles have started their league campaign with successive defeats.
Prediction: How this development can affect Manchester City and Crystal Palace supporters
For Manchester City supporters, Cherki’s integration into the starting line-up provides an additional creative outlet alongside Phil Foden and Erling Haaland as the club adapts to Maresca’s tactical structure. Successive wins maintain early momentum ahead of upcoming fixtures against newly promoted Coventry City and the Manchester Derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
For Crystal Palace match-goers, back-to-back losses indicate an adjustment period under Pierre Sage as the squad adapts to new tactical demands. Supporters will look for structural improvements in defensive organisation and transition play in upcoming fixtures as the team seeks its first points of the Premier League season.
