Manchester City XI 2, Girona 0 (Friendly)
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland scored in the first half as Manchester City’s season restarted with a win in a friendly match against fellow City Football Group side Girona.
City looked considerably sharper than their Spanish opponents in the first half hour but Girona hit the post twice through Valentin Castellanos and Valery Fernandez as the visitors improved afterwards at a rainy and freezing City Football Academy.
With a Carabao Cup game against Liverpool looming on Thursday next week City fielded a strong team despite being without a sizeable number of players who had progressed deep into the World Cup including Argentine striker Julian Alvarez who will be involved in the final tomorrow.
The side was captained by Ilkay Gundogan and also contained Kevin De Bruyne – both players exited the World Cup at the end of the group phase – and Stefan Moreno, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer, and Erling Haaland who did not go to the World Cup.
The City starting side were filled out by EDS players Jadel Katongo and Shea Charles plus Morgan Rogers who was on loan at Bournemouth last season.
Girona fielded ex-City midfielder Aleix Garcia, summer signing Oriol Romeu from Southampton, plus loan signings Yan Couto from City, Valentin Castellanos from New York City and Paulo Gazzaniga from Fulham.
And within a minute of the start Sergio Gomez’ ball across the face of goal was too far in front of Erling Haaland to convert as City got off to a strong start.
After 5 minutes De Bruyne showed his sharpness to intercept a ball out from Gazzaniga to Garcia and drilled it in from 15 yards.
The Belgian looked to have put World Cup disappointment behind him as he, alongside Gundogan, ran the midfield.
The first sighting of Erling Haaland running through on goal was after 14 minutes when Morgan Rogers slipped him through but the City wide-man was penalised for a foul.
Erling Haaland scores again as Manchester City restart with a friendly against Girona after the World Cup
But Haaland managed to get on the scoresheet thanks to another clever interception – this time by Jadel Katongo who instantly found De Bruyne.
The Belgian pushed upfield with Riyad Mahrez before putting a ball across for Haaland to convert from close range.
There were few nervy moments for City but notably a miskick by City goalkeeper Stefan Moreno saw Girona try and find a shot after half an hour but Sergio Gomez came to the rescue and cleared the loose ball.
Couto also fired over the bar after a cutback by Garcia and Valentin Castellanos headed against the post as Girona slowly got themselves into the game hy half time.
Girona made four changes at the break while City brought on Carlos Borges for Morgan Rogers after 51 minutes.
Stuani had a shot blocked by Shea Charles while Bernardo Espinosa had a header from the resulting corner saved.
Riyad Mahrez put the ball wide of the near post after Cole Palmer squared it to him after 59 minutes – and immediately after this Oscar Bobb replaced Haaland who had slipped over earlier and was offside late in the first half during his cameo.
Valery Fernandez, a second half substitute, rattled the woodwork after Aleix Garcia unselfishly squared the ball to him having left Katongo on his backside in his wake.
Fernandez headed over the bar soon afterwards after Palmer lost the ball as City looked the more sloppy side in the second half.
Alexander Robertson replaced Ilkay Gundogan and Rowan McDonald replaced Kevin De Bruyne as City regained their composure towards the end after Girona made three more changes.
Ortega was the busier of the two goalkeepers at the end, keeping out a free kick by Manu Vallejo who also thought he had pulled one back only for it to be ruled out for offside as Girona created several half chances to pull a one back.
GOALS – Manchester City XI 2, Girona 0 (Friendly)
Man City 1, Girona 0: 5. Kevin De Bruyne drilled in the opener from 15 yards out after intercepting a sloppy pass from Paulo Gazzaniga to Aleix Garcia in the box.
Man City 2, Girona 0: 19. Erling Haaland converted a Kevin De Bruyne cross after the Belgian went upfield with Riyad Mahrez after Jadel Katongo had intercepted the ball and sent it up to the Belgian with a quick pass.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City XI 2, Girona 0 (Friendly)
Man City: Moreno, Lewis, Charles, Katongo, Gomez, Gundogan (Robertson 78), Palmer, De Bruyne (McDonald 80), Mahrez, Rogers (Borges 51), Haaland (Bobb 59)
Man City Subs not used: Van Sas, Smith, Dickson, Alleyne, Galvez, O’Reilly, Samuel
Goals: De Bruyne 5; Haaland 19
Girona: Gazzaniga, Espinosa (Terrats 46), Gutierrez (Urena 73), Martinez, Castellanos (Stuani 46), Villa (Fernandez 46), Garcia (Vallejo 73), Romeu, Couto (Roca 73), Bueno, Martin (Saiz 46)
Girona Subs not used: Carlos, Fuidas
Referee: Craig Pawson