One other sport and not using a objective for , however it was at the least . There was a cameo for ’s nice fixed. There have been targets from the 2 males charged with relieving the scoring burden on his sizeable shoulders. Haaland’s current return now stands at a lone penalty in his final 9 video games, however this was not a day for Metropolis to lament that.
For weeks, had cited Omar Marmoush’s absence on the African Cup of Nations as a motive he couldn’t relaxation Haaland. When the Egyptian returned and the Norwegian took a activate the bench, Marmoush scored: however as a left winger. “I see him extra as a striker, not a correct winger,” mentioned Guardiola, who stays a contrarian, even when Haaland stays the one out-and-out centre-forward within the Metropolis squad.
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However not, arguably, the one specialist scorer. Solely Haaland and Brentford’s Igor Thiago have extra targets than and’s first for Metropolis – however third in three completely different competitions – was Haaland’s outing spanned 17 minutes and got here when the sport was determined.
Erling Haaland began on the bench in a uncommon sight on the Etihad (Getty Pictures)
It meant Metropolis ended one of many worst weeks of Guardiola’s reign with one thing of a routine win. After complete defeats in first the Manchester derby after which, they encountered an unnecessarily placid aspect.
They appeared intimidated by Metropolis’s status, ignoring the truth of current weeks. This was at the least proof of Metropolis’s sources: after they have been with out 11 gamers in Norway, Guardiola had the luxurious of beginning with out the overworked Phil Foden, who received half an hour, and Haaland. His two scorers every value at the least £60m. He gave a debut to his newest acquisition, and reduce an assured determine, in sky blue.
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Metropolis have spent closely in successive Januarys and Marmoush was a 2025 arrival. “When he arrived, he was unbelievable,” mentioned Guardiola. “He’s a particular participant.” But the scorer of the Premier League objective of the season final yr had not mustered any within the present marketing campaign.
An eight-month wait was ended inside six minutes, Marmoush hooking in a volley from Matheus Nunes’s cross. This was the Nunes derby and if the Portuguese scarcely excelled as a Wolves participant, it was a reminder that the Midlands membership could have bought too many gamers for their very own prospects of survival.
However Guardiola was rewarded for utilizing Marmoush on the flanks, with Rayan Cherki as a substitute working as a striker. The Egyptian may need been concerned in a second objective. He shot in opposition to the submit after brilliantly plucking Abdukodir Khusanov’s lengthy cross out of the sky after which, when jinking inside, volleyed the ball in opposition to Yerson Mosquera’s outstretched arm. Referee Farai Hallam, despatched to the display, dominated it was not a penalty nevertheless, and on his Premier League debut, the official acquitted himself nicely.
“Truthful play to Farai, I feel it was the precise name,” mentioned Wolves supervisor Rob Edwards. Guardiola didn’t agree, and recommended he would await referees’ chief Howard Webb to name him on Sunday.
Antoine Semenyo celebrated scoring his third objective in a Man Metropolis shirt (Getty)
In any case, Semenyo was capable of double, and nearly triple, Metropolis’s lead. His eleventh objective of the Premier League marketing campaign was arrowed in. “The management is ideal, cross the ball to the web,” gushed Guardiola. The end got here with Semenyo’s left foot. So, too, did a thunderbolt that rebounded again off the bar. There are few extra two-footed gamers and if that shaped a part of the rationale Metropolis purchased him, so did his objective return. “Since he arrived, Antoine is unbelievable,” mentioned Guardiola.
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For Haaland, sitting out the beginning of a top-flight match for the primary time this season, break day allowed him to talk along with his fellow Norwegian David Moller Wolfe as every warmed up. His eventual look took his tally to 2,586 minutes for Metropolis this season; it appeared curious Guardiola referred to as upon him in any respect.
Marc Guehi stored a clear sheet on his Man Metropolis debut (Getty Pictures)
His introduction illustrated a spot between the groups. “We had a chuckle after we have been bringing Tolu [Arokodare] on they usually have been bringing on [Jeremy] Doku and Erling Haaland,” added Edwards. Certainly, Haaland was not the one benched striker. Edwards dropped Arokodare however for various causes, as Wolves adopted a 5-5-0 formation. “We made the change as a result of they’ll suffocate you and starve you of possession,” Edwards mentioned.
But it was as if Wolves had not seen Metropolis’s current outcomes or frailty as the primary half amounted to a missed alternative for them. Wolves have been extra formidable thereafter and the Leeds goal Jorgen Strand Larsen got here on, for what would possibly show a valedictory look. He glanced a header large whereas Mosquera flicked one from a nook on to the bar.
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“If we had received one, the environment and vibe may need modified,” mentioned Edwards. As a substitute, at the same time as Haaland’s drought failed to finish, Metropolis ended a wait of their very own. For the primary time in 2026, they’ve a league victory.