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Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma endured a nerve-racking start to his afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, coming through two major early scares against newly promoted Coventry City. The Italy international looked unsettled in the opening exchanges as Pep Guardiola's side narrowly avoided going behind in highly unexpected fashion. However, Erling Haaland bailed City out before half-time by breaking the deadlock and putting the home side in front.

Donnarumma's mistakes almost handed Coventry the lead.

The reigning Premier League champions may have expected a straightforward afternoon against Frank Lampard’s struggling Coventry City, but Donnarumma had other plans during a frantic opening spell.

Within the first eight minutes, the Italian goalkeeper caused real concern among the home supporters with a string of unusually shaky moments. The first big warning came when a simple back-pass from Abdukodir Khusanov appeared to catch the former PSG goalkeeper completely by surprise, forcing a desperate scramble on the goal-line. The ball seemed to be creeping towards the net, but Donnarumma managed to hack it away before it crossed the line.

Man City survived the goal-line drama.

There was immediate debate over whether the ball had in fact gone over the white line, with many rival supporters arguing that the champions had benefited from a fortunate decision not being given.

That scare did little to calm the hosts, who struggled to show their usual composure in defence. It was a strange opening from a goalkeeper of Donnarumma’s stature, particularly against a team that had failed to collect even a single point from their first two matches. The Italian’s uncertain footwork and hesitant choices gave Coventry genuine belief that they could pull off one of the biggest shocks of the early season.

Awoniyi misses a golden chance to shock the Etihad.

If the goal-line scramble had been a warning sign, the second moment was a full-scale emergency for Manchester City. A loose pass across the back line allowed Taiwo Awoniyi to break through, sending the striker clear on goal and leaving Donnarumma exposed in a one-on-one situation.

It was exactly the sort of chance clinical forwards dream about, but the Nigeria international could not make it count. With a huge opportunity in front of him, the former Nottingham Forest forward dragged his effort wide of the target, squandering a magnificent chance to put the visitors ahead.

Haaland breaks the deadlock as the Citizens recover.

After riding out the early pressure, Manchester City eventually imposed themselves, with the inevitable Erling Haaland leading the way. The Norway superstar, who continues to rewrite records, was central to everything good the home side produced.

Although Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth performed well, he could not keep Haaland out indefinitely. The breakthrough finally came when Haaland nodded home from close range to hand City a 1-0 lead going into the half-time interval. It was a clinical header that underlined the striker’s strength in the air and served as a brutal reminder to Coventry of the price of failing to take their own opportunities.