Here are my observations and match report as Manchester City X today against Ipswich Town.

Ahead of today’s match Enzo Maresca floated the idea that he will need to rotate his squad due to the heavy workload on his players. He did exactly that today. Maresca made six changes to the starting lineup that began Manchester City’s loss to PSG. Abdukodir Khusanov, Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki, Enzo Fernandez, Antoine Semenyo and Josko Gvardiol all dropped to the bench, which was a wise move considering City play AEK Athens on Tuesday night. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Phil Foden, Iliman Ndiaye and Nico O’Reilly all started today’s match in their place.

Amidst a sea of bananas, today’s match kicked off. The defiance of the Manchester City fans in the face of an unprecedented storm set the atmosphere for today’s match. The Premier League anthem was greeted with a chorus of boos, which says it all. Hopefully, the City players matched the fans’ enthusiasm as the game got underway.

Manchester City made a bright start in the game’s opening five minutes. Enzo Maresca’s side were dominating possession and the clear plan of Ipswich Town was to remain tight at the back and be tough to break down. Manchester City’s first chance of the game came in the fifth minute. Phil Foden played in a teasing free kick from the right which Ruben Dias got on the end of. However, Dias’ tame header was easily gathered by Ipswich Town keeper Christian Walton.

After 14 minutes, the pattern of the game was set. Manchester City were dominant in possession and Ipswich Town were stubborn defensively. It was prominent to see Ayyoub Bouaddi dropping in between Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi when City had possession, which allowed Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes the opportunity to get forward when City had possession. As the game ticked into the 15th minute, there were no significant chances created by either side.

Ruben Dias would unleash a rocket of a strike on goal in the 17th minute. Phil Foden won possession in midfield which gave City the opportunity to attack. The ball was played to the left where Jeremy Doku received possession and held the ball up. He eventually squared the ball to Dias who unleashed a thunderbolt of a strike on goal which Christian Walton saved.

Manchester City would take the lead in the 19th minute. Jeremy Doku received possession on the left wing and he took his time before picking out the perfect pass for Foden to fire home from close range. The goal was Foden’s first Premier League goal since December of last year and Enzo Maresca’s side thoroughly deserved their lead.

Ipswich Town would equalise two minutes after Phil Foden’s goal. Abdul Ouattara picked up a long ball on the right and slipped in a ball in behind the City defence. Marc Guehi played Ipswich Town winger Daizen Maeda onside and got himself into a terrible defensive position before being outbodied by Maeda. Maeda got into the City area and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a quality low left-footed finish to make it 1-1. In truth, Guehi’s effort was poor and gave Maeda way too much time and space to score. It was a poor goal for City to concede but it also showed that Ipswich Town were up for today’s match.