Manchester City didn’t have their full squad out for warm-ups. The players were out on the pitch, passing the ball around, but one was missing, still in the dressing room. Fashionably late, Ilkay Gundogan eventually jogged out. All eyes were on him—players and fans alike. The crowd’s reaction was more reserved than when Pep Guardiola subbed him in for his second debut at his old stomping ground, but it was still a special moment.

Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and a few others noticed Gundogan’s slight embarrassment from the attention and playfully teased him. His late arrival, with everyone watching, seemed accidental and out of character for Gundogan. He probably thought his last few games under Guardiola would end with him lifting the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League trophies as captain, wrapping up the club’s best-ever season. Little did he know, his next appearance would involve City fans celebrating him as a returning hero.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick, but honestly, the day belonged to someone else. Gundogan’s introduction as a 71st-minute substitute caused more noise than any goal or the final score. “Gundo’s coming home,” they sang, and his return gave City fans a boost. But that joy was short-lived, as Ipswich Town struck first after just seven minutes. Ipswich, fearless off the ball like they were against Liverpool the week before, countered swiftly through Guardiola’s midfield. Omari Hutchinson sped forward, Ben Johnson timed his pass perfectly, and Sammie Szmodics silenced the carnival-like atmosphere by slotting past Ederson. It was a textbook example of what Ipswich brings to the table.

City, poked and provoked, quickly turned the match into what barely resembled a contest in just 193 first-half seconds. Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Haaland again. Quick, efficient, lethal. That’s what they do, and they’ll do it to tougher defenses than Ipswich before the season’s out.

Kieran McKenna was frustrated, and rightly so, because all three goals could have been avoided. Aro Muric, an excellent goalkeeper signed from Burnley with the stats to back it up, was responsible for two of them on his debut return to the club that nurtured him.

City had already equalized by the time Muric, 25, hesitated while collecting a ball on the edge of his box. Savinho didn’t hesitate, pressuring the Kosovan and causing the ball to spill out to De Bruyne. With his left foot, De Bruyne coolly cleaned up the mess in the 14th minute.

Ipswich and Muric, still reeling from the shock, were their own worst enemies seconds later. De Bruyne’s lofted pass was perfectly weighted, cutting through defenders with ease, and Haaland was off, sprinting in a way only Haaland can. Muric, unfortunately, was also rushing out—though in hindsight, not his best decision. Haaland took two touches: one to head past the oncoming keeper and another to calmly side-foot into an empty net.

The equalizer in the 12th minute was the result of Leif Davis diving into Savinho as he sped towards the byline in a situation that only half-threatened Ipswich. Sam Allison, the substitute referee after Michael Salisbury got injured during the warm-up, didn’t call it, but VAR had other ideas. Haaland converted the penalty. Later, Muric made a brilliant save from Haaland’s header, showcasing his natural talent, but he’ll need to cut out the mistakes to progress.

Ipswich played positively, unsettling the champions at times, and Davis thought he deserved a penalty when he burst past Rico Lewis only to be barged over by Savinho. Unlike earlier, there was no intervention from VAR. Decisions like that need to go the way of the visiting teams if they hope to leave with anything. The frustration among Ipswich fans was clear, and they responded with loud, sarcastic cheers when they finally won a routine free kick.

That was likely Savinho’s only slip-up on a day when City celebrated their sister club Bahia from his homeland, Brazil. Few Guardiola signings have adapted to this team and this league as quickly as he has. The way he chased down Muric for De Bruyne’s goal showed an intensity that few of Guardiola’s natural wingers have matched over the years. City could have scored more, with Lewis and De Bruyne both hitting the bar.

It’s been 22 years since Ipswich last played in the top flight, 23 since they sent City down with a win at Portman Road, where a taunting banner read, “You are the weakest link, goodbye.” Times have changed; Anne Robinson isn’t the queen of British quiz shows anymore, but City fans haven’t forgotten that banner. Football is great at fostering lingering grudges, and reflecting on it highlights just how much has changed at the Etihad Stadium since then.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, and Haaland had another chance to inflict more damage. Turning on the edge of the box, he found Muric’s far corner. Four goals for him already this season.