Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park on Friday as Rayan Cherki scored twice to give manager Enzo Maresca his second consecutive Premier League victory.
Erling Haaland also scored two goals for City, opening the scoring with a 17th-minute header before adding his second five minutes from time.
The win leaves Maresca with two victories from two league matches since taking over from Pep Guardiola, following an opening win against Bournemouth where Cherki set up late goals.
Cherki shines as Haaland opens scoring
Haaland put City ahead in the 17th minute after Antoine Semenyo was given time on the wing to deliver a curling cross. Haaland outjumped Palace defender Chris Richards and sent a looping header over goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Haaland debuted a new short haircut for the match after shaving off his blond locks. Both Haaland and Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen wore black armbands in memory of King Harald of Norway, who died on Friday at the age of 89. Haaland has now scored in every Premier League match he has played against Crystal Palace.
Phil Foden missed a chance to double City's lead shortly after when he blazed over the crossbar from inside the penalty area with no defender near him. Maresca turned away and held his cheeks in his hands following the miss.
Cherki extended City's lead in the 54th minute. Collecting a pass from Foden, the French midfielder jinked past four Palace defenders inside a crowded box before poking his shot past Henderson.
Palace response and Cherki double
Crystal Palace responded in the 56th minute when Yeremy Pino hit a free-kick that struck the crossbar and bounced into the net off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's back for an own goal.
Cherki restored City's two-goal cushion just three minutes later, blasting a 25-yard shot past Henderson for his second goal of the evening.
Haaland completed the scoring in the 84th minute, placing a finish past Henderson to secure the 4-1 win for the visitors.
Early pressure and tactical adjustments
The match was Crystal Palace's first Premier League home game under new manager Pierre Sage. Palace created early chances, with Eddie Nketiah running past Ruben Dias down the left and forcing a low save from Donnarumma.
Daichi Kamada also cut inside from the left to fire a shot that defender Abdukodir Khusanov headed over his own crossbar, while Anan Khalaili urged on the home supporters.
Palace continued to press as Tyrick Mitchell headed wide from an Adam Wharton cross, Chris Richards sent a free header from a set piece straight to Donnarumma, and Mitchell crossed for Nketiah early in the second half without clean contact.
City were playing without injured midfielder Rodri as Maresca continues to experiment with his midfield composition. Maresca previously used centre-back Marc Guehi in midfield during the win over Bournemouth before returning him to defence at Selhurst Park against his former club.
Nico O'Reilly partnered Elliot Anderson in central midfield, with O'Reilly nutmegging Kamada before shooting wide. The transition comes after City lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield and reflects past managerial transitions in English football such as David Moyes at Manchester United, Unai Emery at Arsenal, and Arne Slot at Liverpool.
Bouaddi debut and match facts
City handed a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who signed for £86m. Bouaddi, a mathematics student, chess player, and national debating champion, came on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Anderson.
City remain interested in signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea as they prepare for upcoming fixtures against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium and a visit to Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson 5; Canvot 5.5, Richards 6, Tomiyasu 5.5 (Disasi 74, 6); Khalaili 7 (Mingueza 75), Kamada 6.5, Wharton 7, Mitchell 6; Nketiah 6 (McNeil 68, 5.5), Pino 7 (Gozo 69, 5.5); Strand Larsen 6 (Guessand 63, 5.5).
Scorers: Donnarumma OG 56.
Booked: Khalaili.
Manager: Pierre Sage 5.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma 5.5; Khusanov 7 (Reis 89), Dias 7, Guehi 7.5, Gvardiol 7 (Kovacic 75); O'Reilly 7 (Braithwaite 89), Anderson 7.5 (Bouaddi 82); Foden 8, Cherki 9.5 (McAidoo 82), Semenyo 7.5; Haaland 9.
Scorers: Haaland 17, 84, Cherki 54, 59.
Booked: Cherki, Anderson.
Manager: Enzo Maresca 8.
Referee: Andrew Madley 7.5.
