GOAL DROUGHT OVER: RODRI FINDS THE NET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 MONTHS
Manchester City crush Exeter City 10-1 in the FA Cup. Rodri breaks his drought, and Rico Lewis shines in a historic Etihad rout.
Rodri finally broke his goal drought—the first one in 20 months—and Rico Lewis grabbed two as Pep Guardiola’s side tore through the League One visitors at the Etihad on Saturday.
It all started with Max Alleyne, who opened the floodgates with his first senior goal. Then came a pair of own goals, quickly followed by strikes from Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly, and 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo. It was relentless.
Exeter did have one thing to cheer about: George Birch unleashed a brilliant late strike, a consolation, but at least something to take home.
The city needed this. After three straight draws in the Premier League and a Carabao Cup semi-final looming, they finally had a day where everything clicked. Honestly, it couldn’t have been much easier. It was their biggest win since hammering Huddersfield by the same score back in 1987. They also battered Burton 9-0 in 2019, but days like these don’t come often.
Guardiola wasn’t on the touchline—serving a one-match ban—but his intent was clear. He made six changes, sure, but the lineup was stacked. Semenyo went straight in for his debut after a huge move from Bournemouth, and both Rodri and Haaland started.
There was some youth sprinkled in—McAdoo making his debut, Alleyne keeping his spot from the midweek match—but this was a strong City side.
Exeter almost shocked everyone early. Liam Oakes rose above the City defence from a corner, but James Trafford tipped his header over. That was as close as they got.
From there, City took over. Alleyne poked home after a scramble in the box just 12 minutes in—he was at Watford on loan at the start of the month, and now he’s scoring at the Etihad. Rodri doubled the lead soon after, smashing in a 25-yarder after Semenyo’s shot was blocked. Big moment for Rodri, who’s been fighting back from injury for a while.
Before halftime, two own goals killed the game. The first was messy—nobody seemed sure if it bounced in off Fitzwater, Doyle-Hayes, or even City’s Nathan Ake. The second, same thing: Reijnders whipped in a cross, and it pinged in with Fitzwater and Doyle-Hayes both in the mix. Either way, Exeter was done.
The second half was a walk. Lewis volleyed in from a Semenyo cross for the fifth, then Semenyo got on the scoresheet himself, racing onto a long ball and sliding it past Joe Whitworth. Reijnders curled in a beauty for the seventh, O’Reilly headed in a Lewis cross for the eighth, and McAidoo smashed in from outside the box for number nine.
Birch did give Exeter fans something to cheer—he hammered one into the top corner late on. But City wasn’t finished. Lewis slammed home a bouncing ball in stoppage time to wrap up a wild afternoon.
TITLE BLUEPRINT: HOW MANCHESTER CITY’S GAME IN HAND COULD DECIDE THE 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE
Title hunt. Get the report on Guardiola’s control, Arteta’s lead, and the upcoming Leeds United clash.
Manchester City did exactly what they needed to over the weekend. They battled past Newcastle, squeaking out a 2-1 win that keeps their Premier League fate in their own hands. For a moment, City sat just two points behind Arsenal, at least until Arsenal rolled into Tottenham and smashed their rivals 4-1. That put Arsenal five clear at the top again, but City still have that all-important game in hand. After a weekend loaded with nerves and tension, City are still right in the thick of the title race, which is really all they can ask for at this point.
That win over Newcastle felt like a real test. You could feel the anxiety in the air at the Etihad. Newcastle didn’t just show up to make up the numbers; they pushed City hard and never let them settle. Every minute felt tight. City knew they had to win, especially with Arsenal dropping points to Wolves. More than that, they needed to prove to themselves they could handle the pressure. In the end, they got the job done, and that’s what mattered most.
Arsenal answered right back. They walked into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and blew Spurs away, 4-1. After their slip against Wolves, it was a real statement. Like City, Arsenal now control their own destiny. And now there’s that huge match coming up in April at the Etihad. If both teams keep winning, that could be the day the title race really explodes.
Looking ahead, neither City nor Arsenal will want to let anything slip. There’s just too much on the line. Sure, some people love a gamble; maybe they’d enjoy spinning the reels on Dragon Risk Slot, but Guardiola and Arteta aren’t gamblers when it comes to the title. They’ll want total control, nothing left to chance.
So, after a weekend packed with drama, both teams are right where they want to be. City got what they needed against Newcastle, and now they’ll look to keep that momentum going, starting with Leeds at Elland Road next weekend. The race is on.
BARCA TARGET MARMOUSH: MANCHESTER CITY STAR EMERGES AS TOP ALTERNATIVE FOR CATALAN GIANTS
Striker hunt: Discover why Barcelona are eyeing Omar Marmoush as a cut-price alternative to Atletico's €200m Julián Alvarez.
Barcelona are eyeing Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as they look to bring in a new striker this summer.
Sport says Barcelona have already nailed down their main targets for next season, and a new No. 9 tops the list. The problem? The market’s thin, prices are crazy, and the big names cost a fortune.
Julián Alvarez is the dream signing, but Atlético Madrid wants about €150m (£130m). That’s way out of reach. So, Barca are already weighing other options, and Marmoush is high on their list of names they like.
Here’s why Marmoush’s situation at City makes things interesting. City bought him from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for €75m (£65m). Pep Guardiola had tracked him for a while; Marmoush was tearing it up in the Bundesliga, and even then, Barcelona’s scouts were watching him too. They think he’d fit right into Hansi Flick’s style, with his speed and link-up play.
But things haven’t clicked for him at City. Erling Haaland is locked in as the main striker, so Marmoush has mostly been on the bench or pushed out wide. He’s shown flashes when he’s come on, but the minutes just haven’t been there. Missing a month for the Africa Cup of Nations didn’t help either, so his stats look pretty average.
Rumours about a possible exit started back in January. Marmoush wants more game time and a bigger role, something Barcelona can offer. Still, they’re not the only ones watching. Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Galatasaray are all interested, which makes his future even more up in the air.
So, is Marmoush’s time at City almost up? Barcelona are in a good spot if Marmoush decides to leave this summer. He’s not their top choice, but if the Alvarez deal falls apart, they could pivot fast.
For City, it all comes down to price. Marmoush cost them €75m (£65m) not long ago, but reports say he could go for less if Guardiola gives the green light. Selling him at a discount would be a big statement; it would basically say he’s not in their plans behind Haaland.
Right now, there’s no official offer. Barcelona are keeping a close eye on things, and a lot depends on whether Marmoush asks for a move after the season wraps up. If he does, City will have to fend off competition from England and Turkey to get the deal done.
Read More News