Manchester City marked Enzo Maresca鈥檚 first game in charge with a stirring late rally, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to grab a 2-1 victory at home to Bournemouth on Sunday.
Josko Gvardiol placed a finish into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time for the winner, which was initially given offside before being awarded following a video review, after Marc Guehi had equalized with a 84th-minute header from a corner.
Maresca punched the air when Gvardiol鈥檚 goal was awarded and hugged his players on the field after the final whistle. A huge banner, reading 鈥淲elcome back Enzo,鈥� had been held aloft by City fans as the Italian 鈥� Pep Guardiola鈥檚 assistant in City鈥檚 treble-winning 2022-23 season 鈥� emerged from the tunnel for his first home game as manager.
Wearing a sharp, black suit, Maresca certainly looked the part on the touchline but the slickness synonymous with City鈥檚 play under Guardiola down the years wasn鈥檛 quite there until the late comeback sparked by substitute Rayan Cherki, who set up both goals.
鈥淚t is the perfect day, to be honest,鈥� Maresca said. “I was very pleased when the game started, to see the banner on the other side. And I was pleased because we give them the joy of the three points.
鈥淚t was quite emotional and the perfect day.鈥�
Maresca began his time as Guardiola’s replacement with a last weekend and has had to deal with the to Barcelona.
City might have found a long-term replacement for Rodri in 18-year-old Morocco international , who is set to join from Lille for 100 million euros ($117 million) according to French media, but for the Bournemouth game Maresca opted to deploy Guehi 鈥� a center back 鈥� as a midfielder instead.
It was a contentious decision given there were other midfield options on the bench, and it might prove to be a one-off, but Guehi grew into the role.
City striker Erling Haaland wasn’t on the scoresheet in the first league game of the season for the first time since joining the club in 2022. He 鈥� a buzz cut that went viral on social media ahead of kickoff 鈥� and wasted a couple of great chances to score with it.
Brighton destroys Villa
Brighton scored four goals in the opening 31 minutes and also missed a slew of great chances in a 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa in the other early game.
To make matters worse for Villa, Joao Gomes was sent off for kicking out at Brighton鈥檚 Georginio Rutter in the 40th but the visitors somehow didn鈥檛 concede any more goals.
It has been a tough offseason for Villa, with key players Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa leaving and speculation surrounding the future of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez at the club.
Brighton was sharper, having been in European qualifying action in midweek.
Keegan tribute planned for Newcastle-Liverpool
Later, Liverpool visits Newcastle for a match at St. James’ Park, where there will be a tribute to 鈥� a star player for both clubs 鈥� following his death last month at age 75.
There was a period of silence before kickoff at the Man City-Bournemouth match in honor of Keegan, who was manager of City from 2001-05.
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