Man City Impress in Pre-Season Win Over Palermo with Reijnders’ Double
Hey, have you heard about Manchester City's pre-season match against Palermo? It was their only warm-up game before the Premier League kicks off next weekend, and it definitely caught some attention. City won 3-0, with new signing Tijjani Reijnders stealing the spotlight by scoring two goals after coming off the bench at half-time.
The match took place in Sicily, and while it was just a friendly, it gave us a glimpse of how Pep Guardiola’s team might look this season. Interestingly, James Trafford was starting in goal following his big £27 million move from Burnley. However, the game began a bit nervously for City because Trafford made some shaky decisions early on, leading to a few chances for Palermo, including a close header that went just wide.
Palermo started strong and actually looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but eventually, Man City took the lead thanks to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker was set up brilliantly by Rayan Cherki, who has been impressing with his creativity and skill. Haaland’s goal was a neat finish into the bottom corner, showing why he’s such a key player for City.
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Cherki was definitely the star of the first half. He was involved in almost everything, touching the ball more than any other player and constantly probing Palermo’s defense with clever passes and runs. In fact, he nearly scored himself after a slick team move, but the ball was cleared off the line.
Then came the big tactical switch at half-time, when Guardiola subbed nearly everyone except Haaland. That’s when Tijjani Reijnders came on and made an immediate impact. The Dutch midfielder, who joined City from AC Milan this summer, showed off his knack for timing his runs perfectly into the box. He scored two classy goals, both from well-timed late runs, to seal the victory comfortably.
Reijnders was a constant threat, even nearly completing a hat-trick by getting through on goal late in the game. Unfortunately, he tripped over the ball, missing that chance, but his performance still sent a strong message. Alongside Cherki, Reijnders looks like a fantastic addition to City’s midfield and attacking options.
What’s really interesting is how these two might fill the huge gap left by Kevin De Bruyne, who has been such a legend for City. Cherki impresses with his ability on the ball and creativity, while Reijnders brings energy and smart off-the-ball movement. If Guardiola can find a way to use them together effectively, Man City could be in great shape for another title challenge.
So, with this solid win and some exciting new talents showing up, City fans have plenty to look forward to as the Premier League season kicks off next weekend against Wolves. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling season, and these performances in pre-season have certainly raised some hopes!
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