Man City 3-0 Fulham Player Ratings: Semenyo Shine as City Cruise to a Dominant 3-0 Victory

Manchester City set the tone from the opening minutes and never really looked back as they dominated Fulham with a commanding 3-0 victory. Before moving on to the Man City vs Fulham player ratings, let's replay how things unfolded. With 56% of the ball and 91% pass accuracy from 566 completed passes, the Cityzens moved the game at their own pace, stretching Fulham’s defense and forcing them deeper and deeper. The pressure quickly converted into chances, as Pep Guardiola’s men fired 13 shots, tested the keeper five times, and created two clear big opportunities that underlined just how comfortable they were in attack.

While Fulham technically edged the expected goals battle with 1.50 compared to City’s 1.47, the flow of the match told a very different story. Manchester City were ruthless when openings appeared, striking three times before halftime and killing the contest early. Fulham did register 14 attempts, but only three hit the target, with most efforts coming from crowded areas as City’s defence stayed compact and organised. The home side also dominated territory, recording 18 touches inside Fulham’s box and constantly recycling possession to keep the visitors under pressure.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester City wrapped up the match inside the first 45 minutes with three goals.
• Semenyo was unstoppable down the wing throughout the game.
• Fulham collapsed under early pressure and never recovered.

Man City Player Ratings vs Fulham

Check out the Man City player ratings against Fulham.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7.0: He was solid when called upon, which wasn't often. Made a couple of important saves in the first half that kept Fulham from gaining any confidence. We noticed his distribution was quick and accurate, launching a few attacks. He commanded his box well, especially on the couple of corners Fulham managed. A quiet but composed performance.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 7.5: A rock at the back, as usual. He made some crucial blocks and interceptions, reading the game perfectly. From our perspective, he was never really troubled by Fulham's attack. His partnership with Guéhi looked seamless. He won his duels and was a calming presence for the entire backline. An easy day at the office for him.

Marc Guéhi - 7.5: We were really impressed with his performance on the ball. An incredible 97% pass accuracy shows just how comfortable he was. He stepped out of defence with confidence and even created a chance. Defensively he was sound, making five clearances and winning most of his battles. A very polished display.

Rayan Aït-Nouri - 8.0: What a player this guy is becoming. He was absolutely everywhere down the left flank. He won a staggering 9 out of 13 duels and made five successful tackles. He was a constant outlet in attack and a brick wall in defense. His energy was infectious and he gave Kenny Tete a torrid time.

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A bit of a quiet game from him. He was neat and tidy in possession but didn't really have a major impact on the game. He was caught offside a couple of times and seemed a bit out of sync with the attack. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted after an hour.

Midfielders

Rodri - 7.5: The conductor of the orchestra. He controlled the tempo of the game effortlessly. His pass completion was high, as expected, and his long-range passing was exceptional, completing 12 of 13 attempts. He just makes everything look so simple. He did his defensive work quietly and efficiently before being given a rest.

Bernardo Silva - 7.0: The captain led by example with his tireless work rate. He created two chances and was constantly buzzing around, looking for the ball. The yellow card was a bit unnecessary, a sign of slight frustration perhaps. But overall, a very good creative performance before he was subbed off.

Nico O'Reilly - 8.5: A fantastic performance from the youngster. He took his goal with supreme confidence, a lovely finish into the top corner. Beyond the goal, he was a menace, taking five shots and always looking to get into dangerous positions. He seemed to relish the big stage and played with a maturity beyond his years.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 7.5: He only played 45 minutes, but that's all he needed. He got his goal with a clinical finish from outside the box. It's just inevitable, isn't it? He had minimal touches but maximum impact. He was taken off at halftime, presumably to keep him fresh for bigger challenges ahead.

Antoine Semenyo - 9.0: Our man of the match. What a phenomenal performance. He was unplayable. He opened the scoring, then provided a brilliant assist for the second goal. He was a constant threat with his pace and power, and Fulham's defenders simply had no answer. This was the kind of performance that makes you sit up and take notice.

Phil Foden - 8.0: A typically effervescent display. He grabbed an assist for Haaland's goal and was a creative hub for City. He had four shots and was constantly probing the Fulham defence. The booking was the only blot on an otherwise excellent performance. He just looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

Substitutes

The game was well in hand, allowing for several changes. Omar Marmoush, Tijjani Reijnders, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, and Rayan Cherki all came on to see out the comfortable victory.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 8.5: His game plan worked to perfection. The team came out flying and had the match won by halftime. His selection of O'Reilly paid off handsomely. He managed the game brilliantly in the second half, rotating his squad and resting key players. A tactical masterclass.

Fulham Player Ratings vs Man City

Here are Fulham player ratings from the clash with Man City.

Goalkeeper

Bernd Leno - 5.0: It was a very difficult evening for the German keeper. He conceded three goals and wasn't helped by his defence. An error leading to a shot summed up a shaky performance. He did make a couple of saves, but he'll want to forget this game quickly. Just not his day.

Defenders

Kenny Tete - 4.5: A torrid time against City's fluid attack. He committed five fouls and struggled to contain the likes of Aït-Nouri and Foden. He tried to get forward but was often caught out of position. He was busy all night but ultimately found the quality of the opposition too much to handle.

Calvin Bassey - 5.5: He was fighting a losing battle. He made four interceptions and a few important blocks, but the defence was just overwhelmed. He lost possession 12 times which is far too high for a center-back. He never gave up, but it was an impossible task against this City attack.

Joachim Andersen - 5.0: The captain had a night to forget. He struggled to organize a defence that was pulled apart time and again. He picked up a yellow card and made a few uncharacteristic errors. He was one of many Fulham players who just couldn't live with City's pace and movement.

Ryan Sessegnon - 5.0: He worked hard down the left but it was a frustrating outing. He lost the ball 17 times which really hurt his team. He made some decent tackles but offered little going forward. Like Tete on the other side, he was pinned back for most of the game.

Midfielders

Sander Berge - 4.0: A really poor performance capped by a dreadful error leading to a goal. From our perspective, that mistake just summed up his and Fulham's night. He looked off the pace and struggled to get into the game at all. A day he will want to move on from very quickly.

Alex Iwobi - 4.5: Not a good game for him either. Two errors leading to shots is a statistic that tells its own story. While his passing accuracy was high, he offered no penetration and was a liability in dangerous areas. He just seemed to be a passenger for large parts of the match.

Harry Wilson - 6.0: One of the few bright sparks for Fulham. He created two chances including a big one for Jiménez. He always looked to be positive on the ball. It was a thankless task but he at least tried to make something happen for his team. A decent effort in a losing cause.

Samuel Chukwueze - 5.0: We were excited to see him play, but he was completely anonymous. He had very few touches and was caught offside. He offered no threat before being subbed off after an hour. A disappointing display.

Emile Smith Rowe - 5.5: He tried to link the play but was largely isolated. He got on the ball and had a shot off target, but he couldn't impose himself on the game. It was a difficult match to shine in, and he was another who was withdrawn after 60 minutes.

Forwards

Raúl Jiménez - 5.5: He worked hard and won a surprising number of duels. However, he missed a big chance in the first half which could have given Fulham a lifeline. He was starved of any real service and cut a frustrated figure before being substituted.

Substitutes

M. Saraiva Da Silva made several changes with Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz, Kevin, Oscar Bobb, and Harrison Reed all getting minutes, but the damage was already done and they couldn't alter the outcome.

Manager

M. Saraiva Da Silva - 5.0: His team was completely outclassed from the first whistle. The defensive setup was torn apart by City's attack. While the opposition was elite, the number of individual errors will be a major concern. He made changes but the game was already lost by then.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Antoine Semenyo.

Worst Performer

Sander Berge was the worst performer in the Man City vs Fulham game.