Enzo Maresca began his Manchester City reign with a 2–1 win on the 2026–27 Premier League opening weekend.
Maresca’s first Premier League match in charge of City was the home fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August 2026. City fell behind to Marcus Tavernier but recovered through Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol.
The comeback gave Maresca three points in his first league match as Pep Guardiola’s successor. Guardiola had previously led Manchester City through one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, making the managerial transition a major storyline of the opening round.
Maresca made several tactical changes in the match. Marc Guéhi operated in central midfield, while Nico O’Reilly played as a number 10 after featuring at left-back the previous season. Phil Foden started on the right wing.
Rayan Cherki also impressed as a substitute, assisting both City goals. The combination of a new manager, an unusual lineup and a late comeback made the Bournemouth match a distinctive start to Maresca’s tenure.