Man City 5-1 Burnley: Haaland braces as Guardiola tunes system
Erling Haaland scores twice as two Maxime Esteve own goals help Manchester City beat Burnley 5-1, as Pep Guardiola's side continue refining their new-look style.
Manchester City recovered from a brief scare to rout Burnley 5-1 on Saturday, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Burnley defender Maxime Esteve netting two own goals to seal the result. The win kept City on a promising run that has seen them collect two victories and a draw since the last international break, in contrast with the stumbles that accompanied earlier efforts this season.
Burnley briefly threatened to complicate City’s afternoon when Jaidon Anthony levelled the score in the first half, underscoring the visitors’ low-block approach. City, initially unsettled by the structure, steadied themselves and were propelled back in front by Matheus Nunes’s volley after Anthony’s equaliser. The moment shifted momentum and set the tone for a dominant second half.
Two goals in quick succession from Burnley’s Esteve transformed the complexion of the game in City’s favor, turning a nervy contest into a comfortable finish. The Spaniard’s misfortune provided the surprise swing, as he turned the ball into his own net twice, leaving City with a wide margin to close out the afternoon. Haaland then put the result beyond doubt with two follow-up strikes, continuing his red-hot form and underscoring why Guardiola has placed so much emphasis on integrating his talisman into the build-up play and attacking transitions.
Guardiola has been candid about the ongoing process of evolving City’s approach under the new-look setup. He indicated a need to involve Haaland more against teams deep in blocks and admitted that the first half-hour on Saturday underscored both the challenges and the potential of the current model. He spoke of a gradual improvement in movement from players like Nico O’Reilly and Tijjani Reijnders, suggesting that the team’s bespoke system will take time to fully crystallize. The manager also highlighted a cultural shift toward a more buoyant, results-focused mindset around match occasions, aiming to replicate cohesion and confidence across the squad as the season progresses. The performance also showcased City’s growing reliance on a dynamic, tempo-driven approach that seeks to shorten the distance between build-up play and Haaland’s positioning, allowing the striker to exploit space more efficiently.
Beyond the tactical narrative, the match featured standout moments from Jeremy Doku, who again caused problems down the right and helped City maintain the pressure that eventually yielded their third goal. Doku’s ability to threaten Kyle Walker’s flank repeatedly caused City’s opponents to rethink their defensive shape, while City’s central engine room kept tempo high to prevent Burnley from rebuilding momentum after the goals.
In the broader context, City’s latest result continues a positive upturn after the international break, reinforcing the impression that Guardiola’s squad is moving closer to a balanced and coherent iteration. As Haaland continues to lead the line, and as Foden appears to reclaim a central role with growing influence in midfield, City look increasingly equipped to contend across multiple fronts this season. The next run of fixtures will test how quickly the pieces fit together against higher-calibre opposition, but the current trajectory is a marked improvement over earlier phases of the campaign.