Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve inadvertently contributing two own goals. The result lifts City to third place in the Premier League table on 10 points, while Burnley remain just above the relegation zone in 17th.
City took the lead in the 12th minute when Jeremy Doku’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, only for Esteve’s deflection to roll into his own net. Despite dominating possession, City struggled to create clear-cut chances, allowing Jaidon Anthony to equalise seven minutes before halftime with a close-range finish following a low cross from Quilindschy Hartman that deflected off Ruben Dias.
The second half saw City regain control. Haaland’s header set up Matheus Nunes for a powerful volley to restore the lead, and Esteve again turned the ball into his own net from a Nunes cross, giving City a 3-1 advantage. Haaland then added two late goals in the 90th and third minute of stoppage time, first converting a low Doku pass and then finishing a deflected ball to complete the 5-1 scoreline. The striker moved into Manchester City’s top ten all-time scorers with the double.
City began the match pressing aggressively, with Doku and Phil Foden combining on the left flank, creating multiple chances that forced Esteve into errors. Burnley managed to stay level through Anthony’s goal, but the visitors struggled to contain City’s attacking flow and break down a disciplined home defence.
Manager Pep Guardiola noted that City improved after the interval, saying the second half performance reflected the team’s true quality. Burnley manager Scott Parker faces continued challenges, with the team now having just one win from six league matches. Esteve became only the sixth player in Premier League history to score two own goals in a single match, a testament to a collective defensive lapse rather than individual error.
City will next face UEFA Champions League opponents Monaco away on Wednesday before returning to Premier League action against Brentford on Sunday. Burnley travel to Aston Villa, hoping to recover from a difficult evening in Manchester.
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