Manchester City hosted AFC Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August 2026 in the 2026–27 Premier League opening round.
The game took place at the Etihad Stadium and was scheduled for 14:00 BST. It was one of two matches in that Sunday afternoon time slot, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion versus Aston Villa.
Manchester City won 2–1. Bournemouth scored first, but City recovered through goals from Marcus Tavernier and Joško Gvardiol. The comeback was one of the opening weekend’s notable storylines because Bournemouth had led for much of the match.
Manchester City were managed by Enzo Maresca after Pep Guardiola’s departure. Bournemouth began the season under Marco Rose, following Andoni Iraola’s move to Liverpool.
The match was one of three Sunday fixtures. The day concluded with Newcastle United hosting Liverpool at 16:30, while the opening round itself ended the following evening with Fulham versus Chelsea.