Manchester City opened the new Premier League season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, scoring twice in the closing stages to complete a remarkable comeback at the Etihad Stadium.
The victory provided immediate relief for Enzo Maresca in his first Premier League match as Manchester City manager after succeeding Pep Guardiola. For long stretches, however, it looked as though Bournemouth boss Marco Rose would enjoy the more memorable debut.
Bournemouth took the lead through Marcus Tavernier in the first half after City failed to deal with a dangerous ball inside their own penalty area. Evanilson delivered a cross toward the far post, where Tavernier was perfectly positioned to tap home.
City had been threatening early, with Erling Haaland finding Nico O’Reilly in the opening minutes and Phil Foden seeing an effort blocked. Haaland then missed a golden opportunity when O’Reilly raced down the wing and picked him out with a pinpoint cross.
The striker, sporting a new close cropped haircut, appeared certain to score, but he made poor contact with the ball and Bournemouth escaped.
The visitors grew in confidence after that let-off. Rayan also tested Gianluigi Donnarumma after capitalizing on uncertainty in the City defense, while Gvardiol was forced into a last-ditch challenge to prevent further damage.
City nearly equalized before halftime when Haaland met a cross with a glancing header, but Bournemouth goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic made an excellent save.
Maresca made an intriguing tactical decision by deploying Marc Guéhi in an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside new signing Elliot Anderson. Guéhi had an opportunity to make an immediate impact after the break, but he headed a free chance wide from a corner.
City continued to turn the screw. Antoine Semenyo tested Petrovic, Foden saw another shot deflected and Haaland fired over the crossbar before Petrovic again denied the Norwegian striker.
At the other end, Donnarumma remained alert, making a crucial save to keep out a Daniel Jebbison header and prevent Bournemouth from extending their advantage.
Eventually, City’s pressure paid off. Guéhi, who had earlier squandered a major opportunity, redeemed himself in the 84th minute when he rose to meet a Rayan Cherki corner and powered his header beyond Petrovic to level the match.
With the Etihad now believing a winner was possible, City continued pushing forward. Their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time.
Cherki played the ball into the path of Gvardiol, who finished clinically to send the home supporters into wild celebrations. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, briefly leaving City fearing that their comeback had been denied.
VAR intervened, however, and after a review the goal was awarded. The celebrations that followed were enormous, with Maresca and his coaching staff joining the players in relief and delight on the touchline.
City had created enough opportunities to believe they deserved something from the match, even if their finishing had repeatedly let them down. Haaland’s early miss and Guéhi’s second-half header highlighted their struggles in front of goal, but the champions continued to attack until the final whistle.
For Bournemouth and Rose, the result will be a bitter disappointment after coming within minutes of a famous opening-day victory. For Maresca, it could hardly have been a more dramatic introduction to life in the Premier League at the Etihad.
A late Guéhi equalizer, a stoppage-time Gvardiol winner and a dramatic VAR decision ensured that the Maresca era began with three points. Manchester City may have been pushed to the limit, but their new manager has his first Premier League victory and a dramatic comeback to start his reign.
