Manchester City Destroy Ipswich at Portman Road
Manchester City responded to their midweek setback against Brentford in emphatic fashion, hammering Ipswich Town 6-0 in a Premier League mismatch at Portman Road.
Two first-half goals from Phil Foden and a stunning Mateo Kovacic strike put the champions in complete control at half-time, before Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and James McAtee added to the humiliation in the second half.
This dominant victory not only reaffirmed City’s attacking brilliance but also left many questioning how they ever lost six league matches earlier in the season.
How the Game Unfolded
Manchester City took control from the first minute, passing the ball around with their trademark precision while Ipswich struggled to contain their movement.
First Half: City Take Early Control
- Phil Foden opened the scoring with a sharp finish after a slick move involving Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne.
- Mateo Kovacic doubled the lead minutes later, firing a low, precise shot into the bottom corner after great buildup play.
- Foden struck again, latching onto a De Bruyne assist to beat Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, making it 3-0 at the break.
Second Half: The Rout Continues
- Doku added City’s fourth soon after the restart, his shot deflecting off Dara O’Shea on its way in.
- Haaland made it five, converting Doku’s cutback to celebrate his new nine-and-a-half-year contract in style.
- James McAtee completed the demolition, heading past Walton after being left unmarked in the box.
Player Ratings & Key Talking Points
1. Man City Regain Confidence and Swagger
This was the dominant City performance fans had been waiting for. While their 4-1 win over West Ham earlier this year hinted at a return to form, this was the true statement.
From the first whistle, City were untouchable, playing at full throttle and giving Ipswich no chance to settle. Their fluid attacking play silenced the home crowd, leaving Ipswich overwhelmed and outclassed.
2. Phil Foden Hits His Stride, Doku Becomes a Bigger Threat
- Foden struggled earlier this season, often starting from the bench, but he has now scored five goals in his last three league games.
- His first-half brace was all about intelligent movement and composure, showing his growing confidence.
- Doku was electric, terrorizing Ipswich’s defense and proving he can be a consistent match-winner.
3. City’s Attack is Already Deadly – Do They Really Need Marmoush?
City are reportedly close to signing Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush for around £70m. But with Haaland, Foden, Doku, De Bruyne, Grealish, and Bernardo Silva already running riot, is this signing necessary?
It seems more like a luxury addition rather than a crucial need—but with Pep Guardiola, you can never have too many attacking options.
4. Ipswich Have Nothing to Be Ashamed Of
Despite the embarrassing scoreline, Ipswich should not feel disheartened. They were simply outclassed by a world-class side that would demolish most teams on their day.
Ipswich tried to stay compact and hit on the counter, with Liam Delap showing some promise, but City were just operating at another level.
Full Player Ratings
Ipswich (5-4-1)
| Position | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Christian Walton | 4.1/10 |
| RB | Ben Johnson | 5.1/10 |
| CB | Ben Godfrey | 4.6/10 |
| CB | Dara O’Shea | 4.8/10 |
| CB | Cameron Burgess | 5.3/10 |
| LB | Leif Davis | 4.7/10 |
| RM | Omari Hutchinson | 6.1/10 |
| CM | Sam Morsy (c) | 6.6/10 |
| CM | Jens-Lys Cajuste | 6.5/10 |
| LM | Jack Clarke | 5.7/10 |
| ST | Liam Delap | 6.3/10 |
Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Ederson | 8.5/10 |
| RB | Matheus Nunes | 7.5/10 |
| CB | Manuel Akanji | 6.9/10 |
| CB | Ruben Dias | 7.1/10 |
| LB | Josko Gvardiol | 7.9/10 |
| CM | Ilkay Gundogan | 7.9/10 |
| CM | Mateo Kovacic | 8.9/10 |
| RM | Phil Foden | 9.2/10 ⭐ (MOTM) |
| AM | Kevin De Bruyne | 8.6/10 |
| LM | Jeremy Doku | 8.7/10 |
| ST | Erling Haaland | 7.7/10 |
Substitutes:
- James McAtee (63′ for De Bruyne) – 7.2/10
- Divin Mubama (63′ for Haaland) – 5.9/10
- Jack Grealish (63′ for Foden) – 6.3/10
- Nico O’Reilly (72′ for Kovacic) – 6.3/10
- Rico Lewis (72′ for Akanji) – 6.3/10
Final Verdict
Manchester City were simply on another level. This ruthless performance sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League that Guardiola’s men are back to their best.
Can they maintain this level and push for yet another title? Let us know your thoughts! 🔵🔥
