Manchester City Return to Winning Ways Against Resilient Fulham

Manchester City secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, ending a two-game winless streak in the Premier League. The match showcased both City’s attacking prowess and defensive vulnerabilities, with Mateo Kovacic emerging as the unlikely hero for the champions.Manchester City Return to Winning Ways Against Resilient Fulham

The game began with City asserting their usual dominance, but it was Fulham who struck first. Raul Jimenez provided a moment of brilliance with an exquisite backheel cross, allowing Andreas Pereira to score from close range and stun the home crowd.

Fulham’s Adama Traore had golden opportunities to extend the lead, finding himself one-on-one with Ederson twice, but the City goalkeeper stood firm. Traore’s profligacy would prove costly as City mounted their comeback.

Kovacic, deputizing in midfield for the injured Rodri, leveled the score with a deflected effort from a partially cleared corner. The Croatian midfielder then put City ahead shortly after halftime with a clean strike from the edge of the area, demonstrating his importance in Rodri’s absence.

City appeared to have sealed the win when substitute Jeremy Doku scored a spectacular goal, cutting in from the left to unleash a powerful shot into the top corner. However, Fulham refused to capitulate, with Rodrigo Muniz finding space in the box to score late on, ensuring a tense finish.

Despite Fulham’s late resurgence, City held on for the victory, extending their unbeaten home run to an impressive 50 games across all competitions. This result also equaled City’s longest unbeaten streak in league history, matching their 30-match run from 2017-2018.

The match highlighted City’s attacking potency but also exposed defensive frailties in Rodri’s absence. Manager Pep Guardiola, whose future remains uncertain as his contract expires at the season’s end, will be relieved to return to winning ways but concerned by the chances conceded.

For Fulham, the defeat marks only their second of the season. Manager Marco Silva can take pride in his team’s performance, having caused the reigning champions more problems than many top-tier opponents. However, the result extends Fulham’s losing streak against City to 17 consecutive meetings, a record in English league football.

As City reclaim their winning form, questions remain about their defensive stability without Rodri. Meanwhile, Fulham’s impressive start to the season continues despite the setback, with Silva’s side showing they can compete with the league’s elite.