Enzo Maresca began his Manchester City Premier League reign with a 2–1 win over Bournemouth in August 2026.
Maresca took charge of Manchester City after replacing Pep Guardiola. His first Premier League match in the role was the opening-weekend fixture against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. City recovered from a 1–0 deficit to win 2–1 through late goals from Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol.
The match was therefore both a result and a managerial milestone. Bournemouth scored first through Marcus Tavernier, but City’s comeback ensured Maresca started with three points. Rayan Cherki, a substitute, supplied assists for both City goals and played a major role in the turnaround.
Marco Rose was Bournemouth’s manager in that match, which can cause confusion when identifying the coaches. Guardiola was Maresca’s predecessor at Manchester City, not the manager of the opening-day game. Mikel Arteta managed Arsenal, the reigning champions, in the season’s first fixture.