Manchester City, which attempted to regain the Premier League title in 2025/26, launched its campaign with a very convincing victory over Wolverhampton Wanderlers at Molineux.
Erling Haaland defeated the deadlock in the 34th minute, and Tijani Rayjans opened his city account three minutes later. Haaland fell back into targets shortly after the time mark, with the final score being the work of City’s other rookie, Rayan Cherki, on the 81st.
team
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira did not forward Fabio Silva (groin) or Enso Gonzalez (ACL) in the season opener.
Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbado and Torti Gomez formed a defensive trio before goalkeeper Jose SA. Joao Gomes and Andre paired up in the middle of the park, with Kejana Hover and David Moller Wolf sandwiched there. In the attack, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen was supported by Jean Crickner Bergard and Marshall Munetti.
Mayor Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, had a much broader list of players to deal with. Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes (Illness), defender Josco Gvaldior (Knock), midfielders Rodri (ACL setback), Mateo Kovasic, Calvin Phillips (both calves), Claudio Echelli (ankle), and Philfoden (ankle) and Savigno (Knock), all forwards.
Club returner James Trafford stood between the posts as Ederson was in the fight. Center backs Ruben Diaz and John Stones had former wolves Ryan Aite Nouri on the left and Rico Lewis on the right. The Reijnders began in the middle of the park with Nico Gonzalez, with the trio of Jeremy Doc, Bernardo Silva and Oscar Bob performing in front of Haaland.
Matheus Nunes also played against his previous club, but replaced Lewis after 65 minutes and played only as a replacement.
Short summary
Manchester City took a while to settle, but soon seized control on two quick fire first half goals. Tall and Rangy’s Reijnders caused the opening game with driving past Joao Gomes, clipping a pass to Lewis.
A moment later, Emmanuel Agbado’s false pass to Gomez was intercepted by surprise starter Oscar Bob, who surged forward on a 3-2 break. Bobb fed Reijnders and Dutchman slid low above Jose SA to double the lead.
The timing was cruel for the wolves. The wolves were just beginning to grow into a contest. Marshall Munezzi’s header was choked for offside, John Stones blocked brilliantly from Strand Larsen, and the striker then stretched his leg to the side before testing his overall confidence in debut James Trafford.
An hour after Reijnders collected Trafford’s long kick, exchanged passes with Bobb and set up Haaland, hopes for the fight were destroyed. The Norwegian was his second hammer on a fierce low strike past SA.
The final prosperity came from Rayan Cherki, who turns 22 on Sunday. He tricked Gomez with Nico Gonzalez’s pass back heeled, playing a sharp one-two with Nico O’Reilly, drilling an accurate finish into the bottom corner, sealing off the victory of the city he commanded.
Diogo Jota respected
It was a very emotional afternoon at Molyneux, as the wolves respected former forward Diogojota in their pre-striking tribute. The stadium was silent as supporters turned to the big screen 15 minutes before kickoff. The vast TIFO depicting an old golden Jota was proudly stretching across the south shore while his favorite song, Sting’s * “Fields” echoed around the ground.
The tribute had special weight for those who shared pitch and life with him. Goalkeeper Jose Sa and defender Matt Doherty both count Jota as teammates, the former being the international level former, with longtime wolves medical director Louis Fast present at both Jota’s wedding and his funeral just 13 days later.
reaction
Pep Guardiola was careful to ease expectations after victory. “We came back when we won 2-0 at Chelsea last season (first day) and when we saw what happened afterwards,” the city boss recalled. “We won today. That’s all. If we say we’re back in the second half, we’ll say no.”
City is relentlessly efficient, converting all four shots of the target into goals, each made of quality. Even Haarland’s first simple finish was at the end of a dynamic resinous surge that could become a normal feature. The team had the familiar SW Athletics at peak times and looked at injured Rodri and Philfoden from the stands, wondering how they would return.
Meanwhile, Wolf Manager Pereira admitted to the set-up, but remained cheerful. “I didn’t lose my smile because I made each mistake we made. They punished us for our goal,” he said. “I take good things from the game.”
Looking ahead
For Pereira, there’s no time (or definitely the cause) to stick to this defeat for too long. He must look at the team’s clash with Bournemouth next week, preparing for a trip to the South Coast in search of the first point of the campaign.
Meanwhile, the city responded well to Liverpool’s victory over Bournemouth on Friday, but Guardiola has a lot to ponder as he prepares to welcome Thomas Frank to Etihad for the first time as Tottenham Hotspur boss. The Spurs were supported by a good show at the UEFA Super Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, and ultimately lost to the Champions League owners in penalties.