Manchester City defeated Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2026. Bournemouth scored first, but two late second-half goals completed Manchester City’s comeback.
The Change Created by Cherki’s Introduction
Rayan Cherki came on for Nico O’Reilly after the hour mark. He then assisted Marc Guéhi’s equalizer from a corner and set up Joško Gvardiol’s winning goal with a pass that split the defense.
Substitute Cherki contributed to both goals, helping turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory.
A Late Comeback After Bournemouth’s Opener
Bournemouth took the lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier. Manchester City equalized with Guéhi’s header six minutes before the end of the match, and Gvardiol scored the winner in stoppage time.
This was also Manchester City’s first Premier League match under Enzo Maresca, who took charge in place of Pep Guardiola. The victory in Maresca’s first league match was defined by Cherki’s two assists and the late goals.
Official Match Statistics
| Item | Manchester City | Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 66% | 34% |
| Shots on target | 6 | 4 |
The Premier League selected Cherki as an official nominee for the Player of the Matchweek for Round 1 of the 2026/27 season. However, the key point confirmed by this match is not a conclusion about his long-term performance, but the record that he directly contributed to the comeback with two assists after coming on as a substitute.
Sources: [Premier League match review](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4695734/sunday-wrap-stoppage-time-drama-for-man-city-and-liverpool/), [Manchester City official match centre](https://www.mancity.com/matchday/fixtures/mens/2026/premier-league/man-city-v-bmouth-23-aug-2026), [Premier League Player of the Matchweek nominees](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4694689) (checked August 29, 2026)