Manchester City delivered a convincing 3-1 triumph over Atletico Madrid in a friendly held in Seoul, showcasing the early influence of Enzo Maresca’s tactical concepts. The game highlighted the deliberate strategy of feeding the ball to the wide men, Savinho and Antoine Semenyo, who repeatedly challenged their markers and surged into Atletico's penalty area.
While both wingers displayed electrifying pace, it was Semenyo who ultimately supplied the decisive service, setting up striker Omar Marmoush for two close-range finishes in quick succession during the second half. Semmyo's first assist was a piece of brilliance. The left‑winger instinctively slid to prevent a throw‑in, flicked the ball up with a single motion, beat his defender, and surged into the box to deliver a precise pass to Marmoush, who calmly slotted the ball home.
At that moment City were trailing after a 16‑year‑old Atletico prodigy, Jorge Domínguez, had netted a half‑cleared corner just before the break. Domínguez’s goal, though a moment of opportunism, came against the flow of the game, as City had already generated a series of promising chances in the opening stages.
Mid‑fielder Tijjani Reijnders also impressed, linking fluidly with Mateo Kovačić and providing a solid platform in the centre of the park. Atletico made sweeping substitutions midway through the second half, altering the rhythm of the encounter, but City’s composure never wavered.
In added time, substitute Rayan Ait Nouri redeemed a missed one‑on‑one earlier in the period by converting a pass from Divin Mubama, sealing a well‑earned victory. The Seoul friendly was part of a broader Asian tour that has already 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.
The squad now returns to the United Kingdom for the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff, appearing well‑prepared for the season opener. Maresma, who took charge of City just weeks ago, made four alterations to the lineup from the previous match, introducing Matheus Nunes, Vitor Reis, Savinho and Omar Marmoush into the starting eleven. Abdukodir Khusanov departed the squad for personal reasons.
The match featured several notable moments: Dani Martinez’s errant back pass was pounced on by Reijnders, only for his shot to be saved by Jan Ölák; Josko Gvardiol missed a close‑range header from a corner; and Savinho’s curling effort from the right wing brushed the far post. Both Semenyo and Savinho displayed direct dribbling, repeatedly breaking into the Atletico box, though their early cut‑backs were cleared.
The first goal came from a half‑cleared corner that Morten Hjulmand kept alive, allowing Domínguez to poke the ball home. Later, Semenyo’s second assist mirrored the first: after a swift run and a deft slide to stop the ball, he crossed to Marmoush, who tucked the ball in from inside the six‑yard area. Just minutes later, Semenyo repeated the pattern, racing onto a pass from Josko Gvardiol and finding Marmoush again for a simple finish that turned the scoreline in City’s favour.
Atletico responded with a flurry of changes, introducing nine fresh faces, including Seoul favourite Kang‑In Lee, who attempted a cut‑back in the City box but sent his shot over the bar. In the 79th minute, Divin Mubama had a golden opportunity in a one‑on‑one situation, only to be denied by substitute goalkeeper Salvi Esquivel.
The final blow came when Ait Nouri, after witnessing Mubama’s earlier miss, received a second ball and calmly placed it into the bottom corner, completing City’s three‑goal tally. Following the match, Maresca praised his players for embracing his new ideas, noting that the squad has been eager to learn and implement fresh concepts both on and off the ball. He emphasized the importance of the pre‑season tour in building relationships and highlighted that the team is now ready to begin the competitive season, with injury avoidance as a key priority.
Speaking about Semenyo’s impact, Maresca said, "The first thing I told him when he joined was how pleased I was to have him on board. He performed exceptionally, and the collective effort from the entire group has been outstanding." Marmoush, reflecting on his two goals, thanked Semenyo, stating, "As a striker, goals boost confidence.
Without Semenyo’s assists, those goals would not have happened. I was ready to make the runs, and he delivered the service I needed.
It felt fantastic to finish those chances." Analyst Peter Smith observed that Maresca is deliberately avoiding a carbon‑copy of Pep Guardiola’s system, instead crafting a distinct style that prioritises feeding the wingers and creating space for them to exploit. He highlighted the ten successful take‑ons by Semenyo and Savinho, the deeper positioning of the full‑backs compared with the Guardiola era, and the pivotal roles of Kovačić, Reijnders and Foden in the midfield and attacking phases. Smith also noted that while some personnel may change—such as the anticipated return of Erling Haaland and the addition of Elliot Anderson—the fundamental patterns Maresca is instilling were evident in Seoul.
Upcoming fixtures include the Community Shield on August 16 in Cardiff, where City will face Arsenal, a match that will serve as the official curtain‑raiser for the new Premier League season. The team’s recent performances suggest a solid foundation has been laid, and fans will be eager to see how Maresca’s evolving philosophy translates into competitive matches.