Manchester City stormed to a commanding 5-1 victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium, a match that mixed moments of attacking brilliance with defensive mishaps from the visitors. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession from the outset, but the opening half was tighter than expected. City took the lead in the 12th minute when Burnley defender Maxime Estève turned a rebound into his own net after lively play from Jérémy Doku. Burnley, however, struck back seven minutes before the break, as Jaidon Anthony’s deflected strike off Rúben Dias brought the score level at 1-1.
The second half told a different story. City upped the tempo and finally found their cutting edge. Erling Haaland set up Matheus Nunes with a clever header in the 61st minute, and the midfielder smashed home a thunderous volley to restore the lead. Just minutes later, Nunes was again involved in a bizarre moment, sending in a low cross that Estève inadvertently bundled into his own net for a second time, giving City a 3-1 advantage.
With the contest effectively decided, City turned the closing stages into a showcase of their attacking firepower. Doku, a menace all afternoon, slipped a perfect ball to Haaland in the 90th minute for the Norwegian’s first of the day. Haaland then doubled his tally in stoppage time, punishing a tired Burnley defence to seal the 5-1 rout. The brace not only underlined his ruthlessness but also saw him surpass Ole Gunnar Solskjær as the Premier League’s all-time top-scoring Norwegian.
Ultimately, City’s blend of creativity, pace, and finishing power overwhelmed Burnley, whose resilience in the first half was undone by costly errors and City’s relentless pressure. With 68% possession and clinical performances from Doku and Haaland, Guardiola’s men delivered a statement win that reaffirmed their title credentials.