Manchester City delivered a convincing 3-1 triumph over Atletico Madrid in a friendly match staged in Seoul, showcasing the early influence of Enzo Maresca’s tactical concepts. The English side’s game plan revolved around exploiting the flanks, with wingers Savinho and Antoine Semenyo given the freedom to take on their markers and repeatedly drive into the Atletico penalty area.
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 of Semenyo’s assists was a piece of individual brilliance. As the ball threatened to go out for a throw‑in, the left‑winger instinctively slid to keep it in play, then used a single fluid motion to out‑muscle his defender, surge into the box and deliver a pinpoint cross to Marmoush, who calmly tucked the ball into the net. At that moment City were trailing 1-0 after a goal from Atletico’s 16‑year‑old prodigy Jorge Domínguez, who had capitalised on a half‑cleared corner that Morten Hjulmand kept alive just before the break.
Domínguez’s strike was a rare flash of brilliance in an opening period that otherwise saw City dominate possession and create a series of quality chances. Semenyo’s second assist arrived only minutes later, underlining his growing influence on the pitch.
After a well‑timed run into the final third, he received a pass from defender Josko Gvardiol, turned quickly and slipped another low cross into the six‑yard box. Marmoush, already in stride, finished with a composed tap‑in to restore City’s lead.
The rapid succession of these two goals turned the tide in City’s favour and highlighted the effectiveness of Maresca’s wing‑centric approach. Other notable performances included Tijjani Reijnders, who linked smoothly with Mateo Kovačić in midfield, providing both defensive cover and forward thrust. Reijnders’ energy allowed him to exploit the spaces left by Atletico’s midfield, while Kovačić acted as the anchor, dictating tempo and distributing the ball with precision.
Midway through the second half, Atletico made a flurry of nine changes, introducing South Korean favourite Kang‑In Lee among others, which altered the rhythm of the game but did not prevent City from sealing the win. The decisive moment came in added time when substitute Rayan Ait Nouri, who had missed a one‑on‑one opportunity earlier, redeemed himself by converting a well‑timed pass from Divin Mubama. Nouri’s finish, placed low into the bottom corner, completed the 3-1 scoreline and gave City a comfortable margin to celebrate.
This friendly forms part of a broader Asian tour that has seen Manchester City draw 1-1 (3-1 on penalties) with Inter Milan in Hong Kong, defeat a K‑League All‑Stars side 3-1 in Seoul, and now overcome Atletico Madrid. The squad will return to the United Kingdom for the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff, a match that will serve as the official curtain‑raiser for the upcoming Premier League season.
Enzo Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola, made four changes to the starting eleven from the previous match, bringing in Matheus Nunes, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Omar Marmoush. He also noted the return of Abdukodir Khusanov to his home country for personal reasons. Maresca praised his players for embracing his new ideas, stating that the squad has been open‑minded and eager to experiment with fresh concepts both on and off the ball. He emphasized the importance of the pre‑season period for building relationships and installing new patterns of play, adding that the primary goal now is to avoid injuries as the competitive season begins.
Regarding Semenyo’s performance, Maresca said, "The first thing I said to him when I joined the club was 'I'm very happy that now you're with us!' Antoine played well and the effort from all the players has been fantastic." Marmoush echoed this sentiment, thanking Semenyo for the assists: "As a striker, goals give you confidence and it gets you going in the flow. Without Semenyo, these goals wouldn't have been possible. I just had to tap it in the net and I'd like to thank him. The first half I had several chances where Semenyo and Savinho dribbled and played the ball, but I wasn't there.
In the second half I focused on making the runs and being in the right place. They did their job and we won.
It was a really, really good feeling." Sky Sports analyst Peter Smith observed that Maresca is deliberately steering clear of a mere replica of Guardiola’s tactics, pointing out the distinct emphasis on feeding the ball to the wingers and creating space for them to operate. He highlighted that Semenyo and Savinho combined for ten successful take‑ons, repeatedly delivering cut‑backs into the box, while the full‑backs sat deeper than under Guardiola, allowing the wide players more room to cut inside. Smith also noted the contributions of Kovačić as the midfield anchor, Reijnders’ forward runs from deep, and Phil Foden’s movement in pockets of space around the Atletico penalty area. Looking ahead, the squad will be bolstered by the anticipated arrivals of Erling Haaland and Elliot Anderson, who are expected to link up with the current group during the Community Shield.
The patterns displayed in Seoul—quick wing play, disciplined midfield structure, and incisive finishing—provide a promising glimpse of the style Maresca hopes to refine throughout the season. Match timeline highlights: - 2': Dani Martinez mis‑controls a back pass; Reijnders pounces but his shot is saved by Jan Oblak. - 19': Josko Gvardiol fails to convert from a corner, heading wide.
- 24': Savinho cuts inside from the right, curling a left‑footed shot just beyond the far post. - 35': Semenyo and Savinho showcase direct dribbling, bursting into the Atletico box, though their cut‑backs are blocked.
- 43': Morten Hjulmand’s half‑cleared corner finds Jorge Domínguez, who pokes in the opener. - 57': Semenyo’s sliding stop, beat of his marker and cross leads to Marmoush’s first goal.
- 59': Semenyo again finds Marmoush in the six‑yard box for a second tap‑in. - 76': Atletico’s nine substitutions, including Kang‑In Lee, shift momentum. - 79': Divin Mubama misses a one‑on‑one, saved by substitute keeper Salvi Esquivel.
- 90': Rayan Ait Nouri scores the final goal from a Mubama pass, sealing the win. Overall, Manchester City’s performance in Seoul suggests that Maresca’s tactical blueprint is taking shape, with the team displaying fluid wing play, cohesive midfield work, and clinical finishing.
The upcoming Community Shield will provide the first competitive test of these ideas, and fans will be eager to see how the new season unfolds under the Italian manager’s guidance.