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

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 blueprint. The English side’s game plan centred on exploiting the flanks, with wingers Savinho and Antoine Semenyo given the freedom to challenge defenders and make incisive runs into the Atletico penalty area. Both attackers displayed plenty of pace and flair, but it was Semenyo who ultimately proved decisive, providing two precise assists 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.

As the ball rolled towards the left touchline, the young winger instinctively slid his body to prevent the ball from going out for a goal‑kick. In one fluid motion he flicked the ball back into play, evaded his marker, and surged into the box, laying it off to Marmoush, who calmly tucked the ball home. At that moment City were trailing after a well‑taken goal by Atletico’s 16‑year‑old prodigy Jorge Domínguez, who had capitalised on a half‑cleared corner delivered by Morten Hjulmand just before the break.

Although Domínguez’s strike gave the Spanish side a temporary lead, it came after a period in which City had already generated a series of quality chances. Semenyo’s second assist came only a few minutes later, reinforcing his growing reputation as a creative outlet on the left wing. After a swift counter‑attack, Semenyo received a pass from Josko Gvardiol, cut inside, and delivered a low cross that found Marmoush unmarked at the edge of the six‑yard box. Marmoush’s composure was evident as he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, restoring parity for the visitors.

The swift turnaround highlighted City’s ability to transition from defence to attack with speed, a hallmark of Maresca’s emerging philosophy. Mid‑field dynamics were also noteworthy. Tijjani Reijnders partnered effectively with Mateo Kovacic, offering both defensive cover and forward thrusts.

Their interplay allowed City to dominate possession in the middle third and feed the wingers with timely passes. When Atletico made a wave of substitutions midway through the second half, the rhythm of the match shifted, but City continued to press, eventually sealing the win in added time.

Substitute Rayan Ait‑Nouri, who had missed a clear one‑on‑one opportunity moments earlier, redeemed himself by converting a pass from Divin Mubama, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. The Seoul friendly was part of a broader Asian tour that has seen City draw 1-1 (3-1 on penalties) with Inter Milan in Hong Kong, and defeat a K‑League All‑Stars side 3-1 in Seoul. These fixtures have provided Maresma with valuable opportunities to test his ideas against varied opposition and to build cohesion ahead of the season‑opening Community Shield, which will be contested against Arsenal in Cardiff. Enzo Maresca made four changes to the starting XI from the previous match, introducing Matheus Nunes, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

The only notable absentee was Abdukodir Khusanov, who returned home for personal reasons. Throughout the game, City’s full‑backs stayed deeper than they did under former manager Pep Guardiola, creating space for the wingers to exploit. This tactical nuance was evident in Semenyo’s two darting runs down the left, which forced Atletico’s defensive line to stretch and opened gaps for cut‑backs and low crosses. Beyond the on‑field action, the match featured several moments of individual brilliance and near‑misses.

Dani Martinez’s errant back‑pass gave Reijnders a chance that was ultimately blocked by Jan Oblak. Josko Gvardiol’s corner‑header narrowly missed the target, while Savinho’s curling effort from the right wing brushed past the far post. Mateo Kovacic found himself under pressure from Koke, and his subsequent pass was intercepted by Obed Vargas, whose shot was comfortably saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The post‑match comments underscored the positive atmosphere within the squad. Maresca praised his players for embracing his ideas, noting that the 15‑day pre‑season had been crucial for establishing connections and introducing new concepts both on and off the ball.

He emphasized the importance of staying injury‑free as the team transitions into the competitive season. Regarding Semenyo’s performance, Maresca said, "The first thing I told him when he arrived was how delighted I was to have him. He played exceptionally well, and the effort from the entire group has been fantastic." Striker Omar Marmoush also expressed gratitude towards Semenyo, explaining that the assists were instrumental in building his confidence: "As a striker, goals boost your confidence and get you into a flow. Without Semenyo’s passes, those goals wouldn’t have happened.

I just had to finish them, and I’m grateful for his vision." Analyst Peter Smith of Sky Sports highlighted that Maresca is deliberately avoiding a carbon‑copy of Guardiola’s system. He observed that the priority now is to supply the wingers and create space for them to attack, noting that Semenyo and Savinho combined for ten successful take‑ons. Smith also pointed out the deeper positioning of the full‑backs, which gave the wingers room to cut inside and deliver dangerous balls into the box, as demonstrated by Marmoush’s two tap‑ins. Looking ahead, City will welcome back marquee signings such as Erling Haaland and promising youngster Elliot Anderson for the Community Shield.

Their integration will be vital as Maresca refines his tactical identity and seeks to translate pre‑season success into competitive results. Key match details: - 2' CHANCE: Dani Martinez’s misplaced back‑pass, Reijnders’ shot deflected by Oblak. - 19' MISS: Josko Gvardiol’s header from a corner goes wide.

- 24' CLOSE: Savinho’s left‑foot curler just misses the far post. - 35' RUNS: Semenyo and Savinho burst down the flanks, but their cut‑backs are cleared.

- 43' GOAL: Half‑cleared corner leads to Jorge Domínguez’s opener. - 57' GOAL: Semenyo’s sliding assist sets up Marmoush’s first tap‑in.

- 59' GOAL: Semenyo again finds Marmoush for a second close‑range finish. - 76' OFF‑TARGET: Atletico’s Kang‑In Lee’s cut‑back sails over. - 79' CHANCE: Divin Mubama’s one‑on‑one saved by substitute keeper Salvi Esquivel.

- 90' GOAL: Rayan Ait‑Nouri caps the win with a finish from Mubama’s pass. Overall, the Seoul friendly offered a clear glimpse of the tactical direction Manchester City is heading under Enzo Maresca, with wingers playing a pivotal role, midfielders providing balance, and a renewed emphasis on fluid, attacking football as the club prepares for the upcoming season.