Manchester City managed to scrape past a nervous Bournemouth side to claim a dramatic 2-1 win in Enzo Maresma’s first Premier League match at the helm. The Italian coach, who had endured a humiliating Community Shield defeat to Arsenal just days earlier, finally secured a crucial, albeit uneasy, three points for his new charge. From the outset the Etihad atmosphere was far from relaxed. City entered the game with a heavily altered line‑up, experimenting with players in unfamiliar roles.

Marc Gueï, typically a centre‑back, was deployed in a makeshift central‑midfield position, while the defensive line featured the young Croatian Josko Gvardiol alongside the usual back‑four. The tactical gamble left the side looking disjointed, and their lack of cohesion was evident as Bournemouth took the initiative. It was Marcus Tavernier who opened the scoring in the first half, delivering a well‑timed run into the box before slotting home a low cross from Evanilson. The goal showcased the same guile and intensity that Bournemouth had displayed under Andoni Iraola, and it put the hosts under immediate pressure.

For a period the visitors seemed to be dictating the tempo, and City’s attackers, including Erling Haaland, struggled to find clear chances. Haaland, sporting a fresh buzz‑cut, missed several opportunities, most notably a chance in the 13th minute when a well‑placed pass from a surging O'Reilly run left him one‑on‑one with the keeper, only for him to shoot wide.

City’s frustration was compounded by a series of squandered chances. A header from Gueï off a Kevin Foden corner drifted over the bar, and later a cross from the same player found Haaland, whose effort glanced harmlessly off the post.

The lack of clinical finishing highlighted the growing pains of Maresma’s experimental setup. Yet, the match took a decisive turn after the hour‑mark when the English side began to press more aggressively. The breakthrough came from the bench. Substitute Rayan Cherki, who had already made a name for himself with the most open‑play assists in the Premier League since the start of the previous season, delivered a pinpoint corner that found Gueï unmarked at the far post.

Gueï rose above the defense to head the ball home, restoring parity at 1‑1 and injecting fresh belief into the squad. The drama intensified in stoppage time. In the 90+1 minute, Gvardiol received a clever pass from Cherki, slipped past the Bournemouth back line and calmly rolled the ball into the net.

The on‑field officials initially flagged the goal for off‑side, but a VAR review overturned the decision, confirming the Croatian’s winner and sealing a 2‑1 triumph for City. The VAR intervention was a crucial moment, turning what had seemed a potential draw into a late victory. Post‑match, Maresma reflected on the performance, acknowledging the experiment’s mixed results. "In this moment, it’s about finding solutions and seeing different options," he said about Gueï’s midfield deployment.

"I have always thought he could be a good midfielder, and today he gave us a glimpse of what that could look like. Overall, it was a good performance and it offers us a solution for the future." He also expressed gratitude toward the home crowd, noting the banner that greeted the team and the joy of delivering three points. "It was the perfect day, I was very pleased to see the fans’ support and to give them the joy of a win. I was quite emotional," Maresma added.

While he admitted the side was still a work in progress, he emphasized the importance of the win for morale. "We are more happy today. It helps the environment, the team and the fans." Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, despite the disappointment, praised his side’s competitiveness. He highlighted the quality of their first goal and the moments where they threatened to hold on.

"We are competitors. We came here to win and we did many good things. It was unlucky to lose in the way we did," Rose said.

He pointed out two key moments where Bournemouth could have secured the result—a corner and a defensive lapse—but lamented that the game is 90 minutes long, not 80, and that defensive concentration lapses in the final minutes cost them. Statistically, the match was notable for several reasons.

City’s starting XI was the youngest they had ever fielded for an opening Premier League fixture since the 2008/09 season under Mark Hughes. Moreover, Cherki’s contribution—two assists from a single corner routine—underscored his growing influence; he now tops the Premier League chart for open‑play assists since the start of the previous campaign.

In summary, Maresma’s debut was a roller‑coaster of anxiety, experimentation, and eventual relief. The team displayed moments of brilliance, particularly in the closing stages, but also revealed defensive frailties and a need for sharper finishing.

The win, their first home league victory after trailing in a match since the final day of their 2011/12 title‑winning season, may serve as a lucky omen as they look to navigate a demanding campaign ahead.