Erling Haaland showed how much he loves playing against newly promoted sides by scoring the winner in a nervy 1-0 victory over Coventry to keep Manchester City's record under Enzo Maresca perfect.

2026/2027 Premier League

1-0

Match Report 

The Norway striker missed two one-on-ones either side of heading in Antoine Semenyo's 26th-minute cross.

Rayan Cherki also saw a left-footed effort crash off the right-hand post in the first half, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making two big saves to preserve the hosts' win after the break.

Donnarumma nearly allowed Abdukodir Khusanov's routine backpass to roll over the line and Taiwo Awoniyi woefully rolled a one-on-one past the left post, as Coventry came fast out of the blocks.

At the other end, Haaland tested Carl Rushworth from the edge of the area and Cherki drilled a shot against the right upright before Man City went ahead after 26 minutes.

Semenyo was sent in behind by debutant Enzo Fernandez and then delivered a beauty of a cross from the right byline, which Haaland met with a thumping back-post header.

Haaland will feel he should have had a second just before the break when he bundled past Bobby Thomas and shot straight at Rushworth.

Man City then had a second goal ruled out just before the hour, as Fernandez was deemed offside when playing a fantastic hooked ball for Haaland to tap home.

Loum Tchoauna's low effort with 20 minutes to play nearly caught the hosts cold, but Donnarumma made a strong save to protect their lead.

Phil Foden was denied on the line by Thomas, before Donnarumma came to Man City's rescue again – keeping out Ellis Simm's close-range effort with his face.

Win secured

1-0 @okx pic.twitter.com/hHiS39f7St

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 5, 2026

Haaland the hero as Man City just do enough  

With three wins from three, Man City go top of the early-season Premier League table and, on a different day, Haaland would have been celebrating a first-half hat-trick.

Two of his first-half touches in the opposition box were shots at Rushworth, which the lethal Norwegian ace would usually gobble up.

But his header came about through typical slick Man City movement, and his goal here means he has now scored against 24 of the 25 Premier League opponents he has faced, with Sunderland the only exception.

Moreover, Haaland has scored more headed goals than any other Man City player in Premier League history with 20.

Coventry certainly had their moments, and the game stats were pretty close with Man City slightly ahead on shots (15 to 12) and shots on target (four to three).

But ultimately, Frank Lampard's side are now pointless, winless and goalless through three games since returning to the Premier League.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' Cherki chips the ball into the box, but Enzo fails to get to it

7' Donnarumma almost lets the ball slip into his own goal

8' Awoniyi shoots wide from a one-on-one chance

13' Enzo gets the ball taken away

16' Cherki plays a through ball to Haaland, whose shot is saved

22' Cherki fakes a shot, cuts past the defender, and hits the post

23' Donnarumma saves a close-range header from the opponent

26' Semenyo swings in a cross, and Haaland heads home! Man City 1-0 Coventry City



34' Enzo turns in the box, fires two shots, but both are blocked

41' Enzo fires the ball to sky

47' Enzo squares it to Gvardiol, but the ball is cleared

57' Haaland taps into the empty net and scores, but Enzo is offside in the buildup

69' Donnarumma saves the shot, and Guehi clears it away

73' Haaland misses a golden opportunity

77' Bouaddi comes on for Enzo

80' Donnarumma saves the shot with his face

88' Foden is taken down by Coventry player

Line-ups

Man City XI: Ruben Dias, Donnarumma, Elliot Anderson, Haaland, Guehi, Antoine Semenyo, Cherki, Iliman Ndiaye, Gvardiol, Enzo, Abdukodir Khusanov

Subs: Gerónimo Rulli, Kovacic, Foden, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Matheus Nunes, Lewis, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ryan McAidoo, Floyd Samba

Coventry City XI: Matt Grimes, Taiwo Awoniyi, Jay Dasilva, Ethan Pinnock, Frank Onyeka, Milan van Ewijk, Jack Rudoni, Aurèle Amenda, Bobby Thomas, Carl Rushworth, Ephron Mason-Clark

Subs: Daniel Bentley, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Joel Latibeaudiere, Gustavo Hamer, Victor Torp, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Ellis Simms, Loum Tchaouna, Caleb Yirenkyi