Manchester City delivered a convincing 3-1 triumph over Atletico Madrid in a pre‑season friendly staged in Seoul, showcasing the early impact of Enzo Maresca's tactical blueprint. The English side’s game plan revolved around exploiting the flanks, with wingers Savinho and Antoine Semenyo given the freedom to challenge their markers and repeatedly drive into Atletico's penalty area. Both attackers displayed plenty of pace and skill, but it was Semenyo who ultimately proved decisive, supplying two precise passes that allowed striker Omar Marmoush to finish from close range in quick succession during the second half.
The first of Semenyo's assists was a piece of individual brilliance. Spotting the ball heading for a throw‑in, the left‑winger lunged forward, stopped the delivery with a sliding motion, and in one fluid movement beat his defender before surging into the box.
From there he threaded a low cross to Marmoush, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. At that moment City were trailing after a 16‑year‑old Atletico prodigy, Jorge Domínguez, had nudged home a goal that stemmed from a half‑cleared corner by Morten Hjulmand just before the break. Domínguez's strike, while a milestone for the youngster, came against the grain of the match, as City had already generated a series of promising opportunities in the opening half.
Semenyo's second contribution mirrored the first in its simplicity and efficiency. After a swift interchange with fellow winger Savinho, Semenyo found space on the left, slipped past his marker and delivered another pinpoint ball into the six‑yard area. Marmoush, already in the right spot, tapped the ball home for his second goal of the evening, restoring City’s lead and ultimately sealing a 3‑1 win.
Other notable performances included Tijjani Reijnders, who linked effectively with midfield orchestrator Mateo Kovačić, providing energy and forward thrust from a deeper position. The second half saw Atletico make a flurry of nine substitutions, including the introduction of South Korean favorite Kang‑In Lee, which altered the rhythm of the game but did not prevent City from adding a late third goal.
Substitute Rayan Ait Nouri, after missing a one‑on‑one earlier, capitalised on a pass from young forward Divin Mubama and finished confidently in added time, cementing the victory. City’s Asian tour has already featured a draw with Inter Milan in Hong Kong and a win over a K‑League All‑Stars side in Seoul. The squad now heads back to the United Kingdom for the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff, appearing well‑prepared for the season opener.
Maresca made four changes to the lineup that featured on Wednesday, handing starts to Matheus Nunes, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Marmoush. Defender Abdukodir Khusanov returned home for personal reasons. Throughout the match, City’s emphasis on getting the ball wide and into the channels was evident, with Semenyo and Savinho combining for ten successful take‑ons and repeatedly delivering cut‑backs into the box.
In the post‑match press conference, Maresca praised his players for embracing his new ideas, noting that the 15‑day pre‑season period had been crucial for building relationships and implementing fresh concepts both on and off the ball. He highlighted the importance of avoiding injuries as the team transitions into competitive fixtures, adding that the squad would now focus on fine‑tuning the system rather than overhauling it. Speaking to CityTV, striker Omar Marmoush thanked Semenyo for the assists, explaining that as a forward, scoring boosts confidence and momentum.
He recalled several chances in the first half where he missed opportunities created by Semenyo and Savinho, but emphasized that the second‑half runs and positioning paid off, allowing him to finish the chances he had set up. Sky Sports analyst Peter Smith observed that Maresca is deliberately steering clear of a mere copy‑and‑paste of Pep Guardiola’s tactics, opting instead for a distinct style that prioritises wing play and space creation. He noted that the full‑backs now sit deeper than under Guardiola, granting the wingers room to cut inside and deliver dangerous balls, as demonstrated by Semenyo’s two assists.
Smith also mentioned that key midfield figures such as Kovačić and Reijnders are providing the platform for the attacking unit, while Phil Foden continues to exploit pockets of space on the edge of the opponent’s box. Looking ahead, the squad will be joined by star striker Erling Haaland and promising youngster Elliot Anderson for the Community Shield, offering further opportunities to refine the emerging patterns of play.
The upcoming fixtures on the tour are summarised as follows: August 1 – City 1‑1 Inter Milan (City won 3‑1 on penalties) in Hong Kong; August 5 – City 3‑1 K‑League All‑Stars in Seoul; August 9 – City 3‑1 Atletico Madrid in Seoul; August 16 – Community Shield – Arsenal vs City in Cardiff. Overall, the friendly against Atletico Madrid highlighted the effectiveness of Maresca’s early tactical adjustments, the growing chemistry among the wingers, and the clinical finishing of Omar Marmoush, all of which bode well for Manchester City’s upcoming season.