Man City did the hard part early on Feb. 11, 2026, beating Fulham 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Antoine Semenyo (24′), Nico O’Reilly (30′), and Erling Haaland (39′) scored before halftime, and the second half turned into control rather than chaos.
The win mattered because the Premier League title race is tight again. City closed the gap on Arsenal, and the pressure shifted to Arsenal ahead of its next match, even with Arsenal still holding a game in hand.
Match snapshot: the key facts in under a minute
- Final score: Manchester City 3, Fulham 0
- Venue: Etihad Stadium
- Goals: Semenyo (24′), O’Reilly (30′), Haaland (39′)
- What it means: City closed the gap on Arsenal, Arsenal still have a game in hand
For a simple match page and key details, see Manchester City vs Fulham match info.
Goal timeline that decided it before halftime
- 24′: Semenyo put City ahead.
- 30′: O’Reilly made it 2-0.
- 39′: Haaland struck for 3-0.
Three goals in 15 minutes changed the night. A 3-0 first-half lead lets City manage the game, reduce risk, keep their shape, and wait for mistakes rather than chasing moments.
The moment Fulham could not build on
Fulham’s best spell didn’t last. Reports highlighted Harry Wilson forcing a save, a moment that could have settled Fulham and made City think twice.
Instead, City scored again soon after, and the 2-0 goal landed like a door shutting. At that point, Fulham had a mountain to climb, and City could play with the scoreline in mind.
How City won it: early control, quick finishing, and a calm second half
The pattern was clear from early on. City held the ball, pressed quickly when they lost it, and kept Fulham facing its own goal. In heavy rain, clean touches and simple choices matter more, and City looked more comfortable with both.
Fulham also helped City by giving the ball away in bad areas. That kind of turnover fuels a team that attacks in waves. City didn’t need a long build-up for each goal; it just needed enough pressure to force one loose pass, then punish it.
A recap with highlights and analysis is available from NBC Sports’ City vs Fulham recap, which tracks how quickly the game tilted.
Why the first-half burst mattered so much
In title races, early goals change the whole night. At 1-0, Fulham could still sit in, pick counters, and try to grow into the game. At 2-0, it had to take more risks.
By 3-0, it looked like Fulham had to chase shadows as much as space. The gaps get bigger when a trailing team tries to press higher. City could slow things down, then speed up when the lane opened.
Game management after 3-0: what changed in the second half
With the match largely decided, City didn’t need to force the issue. The focus shifted to keeping control, limiting transitions, and protecting legs.
Haaland did not return for the second half, as reported, which fit the game state. When a team has a comfortable lead, rotation becomes part of the plan, not a reaction to panic.
Standout performers: Semenyo’s instant impact, O’Reilly’s finish, Haaland’s landmark goal
City’s best story in this one wasn’t a late winner or a wild comeback. It was how three moments of quality settled everything, and how the scorers reflected different parts of City’s squad.
Semenyo set the tone with the opener and played a key role in the second goal. O’Reilly’s finish turned the lead into a cushion. Haaland’s strike before the break made the rest feel like a closing act.
One match report that focused on the first-half swing is 101 Great Goals’ City vs Fulham write-up.
Antoine Semenyo is giving City a new edge in the run-in
Semenyo’s opening goal mattered for the scoreline and the mood. It took the tension out of the stands and put Fulham straight into a defensive posture.
His form also matters. He has five goals in eight games since his January move, and reports have stressed the size of the fee City paid to bring him in. In a tight run-in, extra goals from a new source can be the difference between a win and a frustrating draw.
Semenyo also spoke like someone learning to live with the spotlight. He called it “new pressure” and said he’s enjoying it, which fits the wider story of City trying to run down a leader.
Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland made the lead feel inevitable
O’Reilly’s goal came fast after the first, and it was described as a confident finish. That matters because second goals change games more than first goals. They force the opponent to rethink everything.
Haaland then struck in the 39th minute, a clean hit that ended any Fulham hopes of reaching halftime only one goal down. His night also came with a milestone: the goal was his 153rd for Manchester City, tying Colin Bell for joint-fourth on the club’s all-time scoring list.
What this result means for Arsenal, and why “game in hand” can confuse fans
City’s job was simple: win, then make Arsenal feel it. This 3-0 did that, cutting the points gap and shifting the week’s noise back onto the league leaders ahead of their next match against Brentford.
The “game in hand” part is where many fans get tripped up. A simple example explains it: if Arsenal are three points ahead but have played one fewer match, they can add points later without City being able to respond on the same weekend. The table shows a gap, but the schedule still has hidden weight.
City and Arsenal still have to play each other at the Etihad later in the season, keeping the stakes high. A direct meeting can swing points and confidence in one night, and the reports around this match stressed that the race is far from over.
The pressure shift: City did its job, now Arsenal must respond
Semenyo said City had “put the pressure back on Arsenal.” That’s the cleanest summary of what nights like this do.
In a title race, winning first shapes the next few days. It tightens the mood, changes the questions in press conferences, and turns a normal match into a must-answer performance.
The Etihad head-to-head still matters most
Even when the Premier League table moves week to week, head-to-head games have a different feel. They remove the “but we have a game in hand” talk and replace it with direct consequences.
City’s win against Fulham didn’t decide anything on its own. It did keep City close enough that the next swing, especially a meeting between the top two, can change the picture fast.
What’s next: key things to watch
City will want the same basics it showed here: fast starts, clean finishing, and a controlled second half when the lead is there.
Arsenal’s focus is different, but just as clear. Key things to watch over the next week include:
- How Arsenal handles the immediate response match with the title pressure turned up
- Whether City can keep finding goals from more than one scorer in the run-in
- How both sides manage minutes with fixtures stacking up
FAQ
How many points behind Arsenal are Man City after the Fulham win?
City moved to within three points of Arsenal. Arsenal still have a game in hand, which can change the real gap once it’s played.
Who scored for Man City against Fulham?
Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland scored, all in the first half.
What were the goal times in Man City vs Fulham?
Semenyo scored in the 24th minute, O’Reilly in the 30th, and Haaland in the 39th.
Why does Arsenal having a game in hand matter?
It means Arsenal have played one fewer league match. They can add points later without City being able to match those points in the same round.
When do Arsenal and Man City play each other next?
They still have to meet at the Etihad later this season. The exact date depends on the fixture list and any rescheduled matches.
What does this result mean for the Premier League title race?
It keeps the race tight and shifts attention to Arsenal’s response. City did what it needed to do, win convincingly and keep the points gap small.
How many games are left in the season?
In mid-February, there are still many league matches to play, and the exact number can vary due to postponed fixtures. The official schedule is the best guide.
Conclusion
Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0 at the Etihad with first-half goals from Semenyo, O’Reilly, and Haaland. The result narrowed the points gap to Arsenal, even though Arsenal still have a game in hand. The title pressure now sits with Arsenal’s next match, while City will try to keep its pace. The key things to watch are Arsenal’s immediate response and the upcoming City vs Arsenal meeting at the Etihad.
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