Manchester City delivered a commanding performance to crush Ipswich Town 6-0 at Portman Road, reminding everyone of their attacking prowess and securing their 21st win in their last 22 Premier League matches against newly promoted teams.
Despite City’s recent struggles, Ipswich sensed an opportunity early on, with City academy graduate Liam Delap forcing Josko Gvardiol into a crucial block. However, Erling Haaland soon tested Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, who made an excellent one-handed save to keep the game level.
City’s breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Phil Foden converted Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to open the scoring. Just three minutes later, Foden turned provider, setting up Mateo Kovacic to double City’s lead with a precise finish from the edge of the area.
Foden was instrumental throughout the first half, and before the break, he ghosted into the box to slot home another De Bruyne delivery, giving City a comfortable 3-0 lead at halftime.
Jeremy Doku added a fourth goal early in the second half with a deflected strike that found the far corner, effectively putting the game beyond Ipswich’s reach. The Belgian winger was again involved in City’s fifth, capitalising on a misplaced pass to assist Haaland, who found the net after recently signing a new long-term contract.
City rounded off their dominant display with a sixth goal, as substitute James McAtee headed in Kovacic’s cross, capping off a ruthless attacking performance.
Following the match, manager Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with the team’s return to form, highlighting their improved consistency and sharpness on the ball.
“We are really pleased. We are back to doing the things that have defined this team for the last 10 years,” Guardiola said. “Maybe not our best performance, but much closer to our usual standards.”
The victory lifts Manchester City to fourth place in the Premier League table with 38 points, boosting their hopes of securing Champions League qualification for next season.
For Ipswich, the heavy defeat served as a stark reminder of the challenges of top-flight football. Defender Dara O’Shea acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, emphasizing the need to learn from their mistakes and remain positive.
“We didn’t execute our game plan as we wanted. It was always going to be tough, but we must regroup and go again,” O’Shea said.
With this statement win, City now turn their focus to the upcoming Champions League fixtures, while Ipswich will look to bounce back as they fight to climb out of the relegation zone, currently sitting 18th with 16 points.
