Enzo Maresca managed Manchester City in his first match as the club’s head coach during the 2026–27 Premier League opener.
Manchester City beat AFC Bournemouth 2–1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 23 August 2026. The fixture marked Maresca’s first competitive match in charge of City after he replaced Pep Guardiola.
Bournemouth took the lead, but City recovered late. Marcus Tavernier equalised in the 84th minute, and Joško Gvardiol scored the winning goal in the second minute of added time. Maresca therefore began his City tenure with a comeback victory.
The match was notable for the involvement of Rayan Cherki, who came off the bench and supplied two assists. That contribution helped City overturn the deficit, while Maresca’s tactical decisions became an early talking point. The result should not be confused with Chelsea’s 3–2 win at Fulham, which also featured a new manager making a winning league debut.