Manchester City defeated AFC Bournemouth 2-1 in the opening match of the 2026/27 Premier League season at the Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2026. The victory was also recorded as Enzo Maresca’s first EPL win, as it was his first Premier League match in charge of Manchester City.
Comeback completed in the final six minutes after the opening goal
Bournemouth took the lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier. Manchester City were still trailing until near the end of the match, but scored twice in the final six minutes to turn the game around.
Manchester City completed the comeback with two late goals.
In the latter part of the second half, Marc Guéhi headed in Rayan Cherki’s corner to equalize. Joško Gvardiol then scored the winning goal in stoppage time. The goal was awarded after a VAR review.
Cherki assists both goals after coming on as a substitute
After coming on as a substitute, Rayan Cherki assisted both Guéhi’s equalizer and Gvardiol’s winning goal. Guéhi and Gvardiol were the scorers, while Cherki became central to the late turnaround by creating both chances.
The match figures showed Manchester City with 66% possession, a 6-4 advantage in shots on target, and an 8-3 advantage in corners.
| Item | Manchester City | AFC Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 | 1 |
| Possession | 66% | No confirmed figure |
| Shots on target | 6 | 4 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
What this match tells us
The result gave Maresca a winning start to his first Premier League match. However, one match alone cannot determine his long-term record, title prospects, or tactical success. The key confirmed fact at this stage is that Manchester City came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 with two late goals after Bournemouth opened the scoring.