Marmoush Scores Twice as Semenyo Shines in Manchester City’s Victory Over Atletico Madrid

Manchester City delivered a convincing 3-1 triumph in a friendly against Atletico Madrid in Seoul, showcasing the early influence of Enzo Maresca’s tactical blueprint. The English side’s game plan centred on exploiting the flanks, with wingers Savinho and Antoine Semenyo given the freedom to take on defenders and drive into Atletico’s penalty area whenever the opportunity arose. Both youngsters displayed electric pace and skill, but it was Semenyo who ultimately provided the decisive service, setting up striker Omar Marmoush for two close‑range finishes in quick succession during the second half.

The first assist from Semenyo was a piece of individual brilliance. As the ball threatened to go out for a throw‑in, the left‑winger slid in, smothering the ball with his body, then in one fluid motion he evaded his marker, surged into the box and delivered a precise cross that Marmoush met with a simple tap‑in. At that moment City were trailing 1‑0 after a 16‑year‑old Atletico prodigy, Jorge Domínguez, had capitalised on a half‑cleared corner that Morten Hjulmand had inadvertently left alive just before the break. Domínguez’s goal, while a fine finish, came against the grain of the match, as City had already been creating a string of chances in the opening stages.

Another standout performer was Tijjani Reijnders, whose work rate and intelligent movement complemented Mateo Kovacic’s role as the midfield anchor. Their partnership allowed City to control the tempo and transition quickly from defence to attack. Mid‑way through the second half, Atletico made a flurry of nine changes, including the introduction of Korean favourite Kang‑In Lee, which altered the rhythm of the game.

Nevertheless, City maintained their composure and sealed the win in stoppage time when substitute Rayan Ait Nouri, after missing a one‑on‑one earlier, capitalised on a pass from Divin Mubama and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, making the final score 3‑1. The Seoul fixture was part of a broader Asian tour that has already seen City draw 1‑1 with Inter Milan in Hong Kong (winning 3‑1 on penalties) and defeat a K‑League All‑Stars side 3‑1 in Seoul.

The team now returns to the United Kingdom for the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff, appearing well‑prepared for the season‑opening showdown. Enzo Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola, made four changes to the lineup that played on Wednesday, bringing in Matheus Nunes, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Omar Marmoush from the start. Abdukodir Khusanov departed early for personal reasons. Throughout the match, City’s emphasis on getting the ball to the wide players was evident.

Savinho repeatedly cut inside from the right, sending dangerous left‑footed curls into the box, while Semenyo’s direct dribbling and pace forced the Atletico defence to stay on high alert. Key moments included: - 2′ CHANCE – Dani Martinez’s errant back‑pass was pounced on by Reijnders, but his shot was blocked by Jan Oblak. - 19′ MISS – Josko Gvardiol failed to connect with a corner at the near post, heading wide from close range.

- 24′ CLOSE – Savinho’s cut‑inside move produced a left‑footed curler that drifted just beyond the far post. - 35′ RUNS – Both Semenyo and Savinho showcased blistering runs into the Atletico box, only to see their cut‑backs cleared. - 43′ GOAL – A half‑cleared corner found Jorge Domínguez, who poked in the opening goal for Atletico. - 53′ CHANCE – Mateo Kovacic was closed down by Koke, who fed Obed Vargas, whose shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

- 57′ GOAL – Semenyo’s sliding interception, beat of his marker and cross set up Marmoush’s first tap‑in. - 59′ GOAL – Semenyo again ran onto a pass from Gvardiol and delivered a low cross for Marmoush to finish in the six‑yard box, equalising the score.

- 64′ SUBS – Atletico made nine changes, introducing Lee among others. - 76′ OFF‑TARGET – Lee’s cut‑back from the City box sailed over the bar.

- 79′ CHANCE – Divin Mubama missed a one‑on‑one, saved by substitute goalkeeper Salvi Esquivel. - 89′ CHANCE – Claudio Echeverri failed to control a cross from Phil Foden at the back post. - 90′ GOAL – Ait Nouri, after witnessing Mubama’s earlier miss, received another pass and fired low into the bottom corner to complete the win. Maresca praised his squad for embracing his ideas, noting that the players have been “open‑minded” and eager to learn new concepts both on and off the ball.

He highlighted the importance of the fifteen‑day pre‑season in building relationships and installing fresh patterns of play. On the upcoming Community Shield, Maresca emphasized the need to stay injury‑free as the season officially begins.

Speaking about Semenyo’s impact, Maresca said, “The first thing I told him when he arrived was how pleased I was to have him with us. He performed brilliantly, and the collective effort from the team has been outstanding.” Striker Omar Marmoush expressed gratitude to Semenyo, explaining that the assists were crucial for his confidence: “As a striker, goals boost you. Without Semenyo’s service, those goals wouldn’t have happened.

In the first half I had several chances, but in the second half I focused on making the runs and being in the right place. They did their job, and we won – it felt fantastic.” Analyst Peter Smith observed that Maresca is deliberately moving away from copying Guardiola’s exact system, instead crafting a distinct “Maresca‑ball” identity.

He noted the emphasis on wing play, the deeper positioning of full‑backs compared with the Guardiola era, and the fluid movement of midfielders like Kovacic and Reijnders. Smith also mentioned that big names such as Erling Haaland and Elliot Anderson are expected to join the squad next week, but the fundamental patterns displayed in Seoul already signal a clear direction for the new manager.

Upcoming fixtures on the tour include: - 1 August: Manchester City 1‑1 Inter Milan (City won 3‑1 on penalties) – Hong Kong - 5 August: K‑League All‑Stars 1‑3 Manchester City – Seoul - 9 August: Manchester City 3‑1 Atletico Madrid – Seoul - 16 August: Community Shield – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Cardiff (3 pm) Fans can stay updated via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, analysis and more. The club also encourages supporters to stream the Premier League without a contract and to download the Sky Sports app for live coverage.