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Maresca enjoys 'perfect day' on league bow for Man City
Steve Douglas • August 24th, 2026 8:00 am
Enzo Maresca got a warm welcome back at Manchester City, and his side rewarded him with a victory | Photo: EPA
Manchester City have marked Enzo Maresca's first Premier League game in charge with a stirring late rally, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to grab a 2-1 victory at home to Bournemouth.
Josko Gvardiol placed a finish into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time for the winner, which was initially given offside before being awarded following a video review, after Marc Guehi had equalised with a 84th-minute header from a corner.
Maresca hugged his players on the field after the final whistle on Sunday. A huge banner, reading "Welcome back Enzo," had been held aloft by City fans as the Italian — Pep Guardiola's assistant in City's treble-winning 2022-23 season — emerged from the tunnel for his first home game as manager.
Wearing a sharp, black suit, Maresca certainly looked the part on the touchline but the slickness synonymous with City's play under Guardiola down the years wasn't quite there until the late comeback sparked by substitute Rayan Cherki, who set up both goals.
"I was very pleased when the game started, to see the banner on the other side. And I was pleased because we give them the joy of the three points," beamed Maresca.
"It was quite emotional, and the perfect day."
Erling Haaland was sporting a new look after his World Cup exploits | Photo: EPA
City striker Erling Haaland wasn't on the scoresheet in the first league game of the season for the first time since joining the club in 2022. He sported a new hairstyle — a buzz cut that went viral on social media ahead of kickoff — and wasted a couple of great chances to score with it.
Maresca began his time as Guardiola's replacement with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend and has had to deal with the departure of star midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.
But City might have found a long-term replacement for Rodri in 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is set to join from Lille for 100 million euros according to French media.
Elsewhere, Brighton scored four goals in the opening 31 minutes and also missed a slew of great chances in a 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa.
Villa's Joao Gomes was sent off for kicking out at Georginio Rutter in the 40th but the visitors somehow didn't concede any more goals after a two-minute double from Jack Hinshelwood (30 and 31mins) followed Victor Lindelof's own goal (eight minutes) and Maxim De Cuyper's strike (18min).
A banner honouring Kevin Keegan was unveiled at St James' Park before the Newcastle-Liverpool match | Photo: AP
On an emotional day at Newcastle, where both sides united before kick-off to pay tribute to their former great Kevin Keegan, Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw in an absorbing match.
Players wore shirts with "Keegan" and the number 7 on the back in the warm-up at St James' Park, while there was a mosaic in the centre circle, a tribute video and a huge tifo in the stands dedicated to the former England star.
Joe Willock looked to have scored a 57th-minute winner for Newcastle, one minute after coming on as a substitute and two minutes after Cody Gakpo had equalised for Liverpool. Anthony Elanga had put Newcastle ahead in the fifth minute.
