In the absence of Rodri, Manchester City are missing the commanding presence their peerless No 6 provides. Pep Guardiola, as promised, is working on solutions. This time, Mateo Kovacic stepped up with a two-goal performance, operating in the Spaniard's usual position. His brace included an equaliser and City's second goal, matching his tally from last season. However, the champions are more vulnerable, as evidenced by Andreas Pereira's opener and Rodrigo Muniz's 88th-minute finish for Fulham. There were other moments of vulnerability, such as during the second half when Josko Gvardiol's desperate block thwarted Raúl Jiménez's close-range effort.
Muniz's goal came after a swift counter-attack, with Emile Smith Rowe finding Reiss Nelson, who then set up the Brazilian. Jérémy Doku's decisive finish, a powerful right-foot shot after a clever move, highlighted City's discomfort, which was further underscored by their defensive struggles and Ederson's booking for time-wasting.
The early stages saw City create numerous chances. Ilkay Gündogan set up Erling Haaland, but Bernd Leno made a save. Gündogan and Haaland both missed clear opportunities, and Rico Lewis was fouled by Sasa Lukic. Bernardo Silva blocked a free-kick, but City soon lost their rhythm. Kovacic, Jack Grealish, and Lewis all made errors, allowing Adama Traoré to exploit space. Ederson's quick reflexes saved City from conceding.
The absence of Rodri was particularly evident in Pereira's goal. Without the Spaniard's link-play, City struggled to control possession and prevent Fulham from switching flanks. Alex Iwobi's backheeled cross set up Pereira's volley. A near-identical chance followed, but Ederson denied Traoré.
In the technical area, Silva was frustrated by the missed opportunities. City soon equalised through Kovacic, whose shot deflected off Joachim Andersen and wrongfooted Leno. Guardiola's halftime pep talk seemed to inspire Kovacic, who scored again early in the second half. Phil Foden's chipped pass found Silva, who set up Kovacic for a clinical finish.
Guardiola made double substitutions, bringing on Doku and Kyle Walker. Lewis continued at right-back, showcasing his technical skills. Walker's pace was crucial, but he couldn't prevent Traoré from breaking away. Muniz's late goal reduced the deficit, but Fulham's missed chances left them rueing their luck.
