Pep Guardiola’s aspect struggled to wreck down Palace till Haaland netted from the spot with 12 mins left at rain-lashed Selhurst Park.
Haaland’s thirty fourth objective in all competitions since becoming a member of from Borussia Dortmund remaining yr used to be sufficient to seal City’s 5th win of their remaining six league video games.
Having stored the power on Arsenal, the champions will hope Mikel Arteta’s males slip up after they go back and forth to Fulham for his or her recreation in hand on Sunday.
City were not at their fluent perfect however the hard-fought victory used to be very important to forestall Arsenal shifting additional into the space within the name race.
Now Haaland and corporate will focal point on the second one leg in their Champions League remaining 16 conflict towards Leipzig in Manchester on Tuesday, with the tie delicately balanced at 1-1.
Palace are at the longest present winless run within the Premier League, failing to take most issues from any in their 10 video games in 2023, a dark collection that leaves them simply 4 issues above the relegation zone.
Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker at the bench, the latter’s exile coming simply days after police introduced an investigation into allegations the England defender indecently uncovered himself in a bar.
City made a robust get started as Rodri’s robust volley used to be parried via Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.
Ruben Dias’s try to flip within the rebound used to be blocked via Jeffrey Schlupp earlier than Jack Grealish shot vast simply moments later.
City have been just about stuck out when Manuel Akanji used to be compelled to race again to dam Wilfried Zaha’s shot after Phil Foden carelessly surrendered ownership.
Guardiola has claimed Foden is again to his perfect after a troublesome season for the England playmaker.
But Foden struggled within the first half of and Guardiola used to be on his ft barking at his big name when his out of place go went directly to Palace’s Luka Milivojevic.
Haaland scored his first Premier League hat-trick towards Palace in August as City got here from two targets down at half-time to win 4-2.
Haaland will have to have put City forward halfway during the first half of within the rematch, however he clipped over from six yards after Nathan Ake’s move picked him out.
The Norway striker threatened once more with a low cross-shot that Guaita blocked on the close to publish, with the rebound drilled vast via Haaland.
City maintained their territorial keep an eye on in the second one half of and Jack Grealish briefly received a free-kick, from which Foden’s 25-yard strike drew a just right save from Guaita.
Julian Alvarez, despatched on instead of Foden, squandered a golden alternative to wreck the impasse because the Argentine World Cup winner blazed over after his nimble flip unfolded the Palace defence.
Alvarez’s long-range effort used to be too on the subject of Guaita quickly afterwards, however City’s power used to be mounting they usually struck within the 78th minute.
Michael Olise’s rash problem on Ilkay Gundogan used to be dominated a penalty and Haaland stepped as much as ship Guaita the incorrect approach from the spot.
Haaland wasted an opportunity to kill off Palace when he headed over from Grealish’s move.
That pass over supposed City needed to live to tell the tale a anxious finale, with Ederson saving from Eberechi Eze, earlier than they might in the end exhale.
(With inputs from AFP)