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Maresca Wins First League Game as City Rally With VAR-Awarded Stoppage-Time Goal

The late comeback highlights City’s fight under Enzo Maresca during a period of heavy summer squad turnover.

Overview

  • Manchester City rallied from 1-0 down to beat Bournemouth 2-1 on Sunday, with Marc Guéhi equalising in the 84th minute and Joško Gvardiol scoring the stoppage-time winner that was awarded after a VAR review.
  • Substitute Rayan Cherki changed the game by creating both late goals, providing the corner for Guéhi’s equaliser and the through-pass for Gvardiol’s finish.
  • Maresca made unconventional tactical choices, including deploying centre-back Marc Guéhi in a midfield role, as he searches for solutions while key players adapt after World Cup breaks.
  • City remain in transition after the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Aké and Tijjani Reijnders, with reports linking the club to Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi and the transfer window open until Sept. 1.
  • The opening weekend produced more late drama across leagues, with Espanyol losing 2-1 to Real Madrid after Tyrhys Dolan’s earlier sign of form, underscoring early-season unpredictability for teams undergoing change.