Haaland double keeps Maresca's perfect start going as Manchester City beat Ipswich

Manchester City handled their first home Premier League match since the financial rule verdict with a hard-earned victory over Ipswich Town. Phil Foden opened the scoring and Erling Haaland added two more as Enzo Maresca became the first manager in the competition's history to win his first seven games in charge of a club.

• Enzo Maresca sets a Premier League record with seven wins from his first seven matches as manager.
• Phil Foden scored his first goal since mid-December and celebrated by kissing the badge.
• Erling Haaland grabbed a brace as City moved six points clear of their closest challengers.
• Ipswich fought until the end, equalised early in the first half and converted a late penalty.

Maresca makes history with seven straight Premier League wins

The Italian coach arrived at the Etihad Stadium surrounded by noise and left with a record nobody had achieved before. By beating Ipswich, Maresca became the first manager to win his opening seven Premier League matches, a run that keeps City top of the table and six points ahead of their nearest rivals.

The home crowd, forced for weeks to live with the club's guilty verdict and the criticism that followed, found shelter in football. The atmosphere mixed protest with celebration: the Premier League anthem was booed before kick-off, while inflatable bananas and defiant chants filled the stands as the supporters backed their team.

Phil Foden ends his drought with the opening goal

The academy product needed a goal like this. Foden had not scored since mid-December and he was the man who broke down an Ipswich side set up to defend with numbers. Jérémy Doku produced a moment of skill on the left side of the box and laid the ball off for Foden to sweep home a clean finish past Christian Walton.

The celebration said plenty about the moment. Foden kissed the badge of the club where he grew up, a gesture the crowd read as a statement of loyalty during a turbulent period off the pitch. His goal arrived after a first quarter of an hour in which City had around 90% possession but struggled to find room against Gary O'Neil's disciplined low block.

Ipswich hit back immediately through Maeda

The home team's joy lasted only two minutes. Marc Guéhi did not see Daizen Maeda arriving behind him and the Ipswich forward latched onto a superb curved through ball from Abdoul Ouattara before slotting in a composed equaliser. The goal returned the contest to its previous pattern: City probing against a wall and Ipswich waiting for their chance.

Haaland, quiet for most of the opening half hour, gave a warning with a shot inside the area that deflected over the bar. The Norwegian striker, watched from the stands by the legendary Imre Varadi, found the net soon after when he headed a cross from Mateo Kovacic. The effort lacked real power, but Walton could not keep it out and the ball slipped into the net.

Haaland seals it before VAR takes over late on

Ipswich came out for the second half with more ambition and nearly levelled when Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged a corner, only to see Emersonn's header hit a defender with the goalkeeper stranded. City, stuck in a lull after the break, regained their rhythm through a quick move that ended with a precise pass from Iliman Ndiaye and an aggressive finish from Haaland.

The striker was later denied a hat-trick by VAR. The closing stages turned chaotic when referee Farai Hallam went to the screen to review Guéhi's challenge on Abdul Fatawu inside the area and awarded a penalty, which Zian Flemming converted in the 90th minute. City were left asking questions after twelve minutes were added on without explanation, but this time the result itself was not up for debate.

What the win means for Manchester City

The victory over Ipswich strengthens City's position at the top of the league in a season shaped by constant off-field distractions. Seven straight wins give Maresca's project breathing room and leave the team with a six-point cushion heading into the next round of fixtures.

The performances of Foden and Haaland, both decisive on Saturday, are a reminder that City's attacking power remains intact despite the noise around the club. Ipswich leave Manchester without points but with the satisfaction of having competed until the final whistle.