Man City vs Fulham: Manchester City Cruise to 3-0 Victory as Haaland Ends Goal Drought
Manchester City 3-0 Fulham — Pep Guardiola’s side delivered a dominant performance at the Etihad Stadium to stay firmly in the Premier League title race, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal in the 2025/26 season.
With searches trending around “Man City vs Fulham result,” “Haaland goal today,” “Premier League table update,” and “Manchester City title race,” this controlled demolition was more than just three points — it was a statement.
Man City vs Fulham Match Recap (Matchday 26)
On Premier League Matchday 26, Manchester City extended their unbeaten run with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham at home. First-half goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland effectively ended the contest before the break.
City’s relentless pressing, midfield rotations, and attacking fluidity left Fulham pinned deep for long stretches. The result moves City within three points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, adding pressure ahead of the Gunners’ upcoming fixture against Brentford.
Meanwhile, Fulham slump to a third straight defeat, remaining stuck in mid-table and extending their difficult run of form.
How Manchester City Took Control Early
Manchester City imposed themselves from the opening whistle.
Phil Foden orchestrated the early tempo, firing a volley narrowly wide before testing Bernd Leno with a precise effort inside the box. The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute when Matheus Nunes delivered a dangerous cross that led to chaos in Fulham’s defense. After a deflection off Sander Berge, Antoine Semenyo reacted quickest, stabbing home from close range to make it 1-0.
Six minutes later, City doubled their lead.
Following a brief Fulham counterattack, City transitioned rapidly. Semenyo turned provider, threading an incisive pass into Nico O’Reilly, who calmly slotted past Leno to make it 2-0. The Etihad crowd sensed the game slipping completely out of Fulham’s reach.
Erling Haaland Ends His Mini Goal Drought
The headline moment came just before halftime.
Erling Haaland, who had gone eight Premier League matches without an open-play goal, reminded everyone why he remains the league’s most feared striker. City worked the ball sharply through midfield before Haaland peeled into space and drilled a low finish beyond Leno for 3-0.
Search interest around “Haaland goal vs Fulham,” “Haaland Premier League stats,” and “Haaland drought ends” spiked instantly — and for good reason.
Guardiola substituted Haaland at halftime, prioritizing fitness ahead of a demanding February schedule featuring crucial clashes against Newcastle United and Leeds United.
Second-Half Game Management at Its Best
With a commanding three-goal advantage, City shifted gears after the break.
Rather than chase a bigger scoreline, Guardiola’s men focused on possession control and defensive discipline. Fulham were restricted to speculative efforts, rarely threatening Ederson’s goal.
The clean sheet will be particularly pleasing for Guardiola, as defensive stability often proves decisive in tight title races.
Notably, this result marked Fulham’s 20th consecutive defeat to Manchester City in all competitions, underlining City’s psychological dominance in this fixture.
What This Means for the Premier League Title Race
The Premier League table now tightens dramatically.
-
Manchester City move to within three points of Arsenal
-
Momentum shifts toward Guardiola’s side
-
Arsenal face mounting pressure ahead of their next fixture
With upcoming games against Newcastle United and Leeds United, City have an opportunity to turn this victory into a sustained winning streak that could redefine the title race.