Manchester City beat AFC Bournemouth 2–1 on the first Sunday of the 2026–27 Premier League season.
The match was played at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 23 August 2026. Bournemouth took the lead, but Manchester City scored twice late in the match to complete a comeback victory.
The result was Enzo Maresca’s first competitive win as Manchester City manager. He had replaced Pep Guardiola during the summer, so the opening fixture attracted attention beyond the scoreline.
Rayan Cherki was also central to the comeback after entering from the bench, supplying both assists for City’s late goals. The match was one of three Premier League fixtures played on that Sunday, alongside Brighton’s win over Aston Villa and Newcastle’s draw with Liverpool.