Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth: Josko Gvardiol scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Enzo Maresca’s side came from behind to secure three points in their opening Premier League match of the 2026/27 season.
Manchester City produced a dramatic late comeback at the Etihad Stadium, beating Bournemouth 2-1 after appearing to be heading for a disappointing opening-day defeat.
The victory will provide huge relief for new manager Enzo Maresca, whose first Premier League match in charge looked to be slipping away after Bournemouth took the lead through Marcus Tavernier. City eventually turned the game around through Marc Guéhi and Josko Gvardiol, with the latter scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time.
The result was particularly significant after City’s difficult start to the campaign, including a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. Maresca therefore desperately needed a positive Premier League result, and his players delivered—but only after a huge late fightback.
Bournemouth Shock Manchester City
Bournemouth stunned the Etihad in the 26th minute when Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring.
Manchester City’s defence switched off during a Bournemouth attack, allowing Evanilson to receive the ball in space before finding Tavernier inside the penalty area. The winger made no mistake, slotting the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
City struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. Their defensive structure was vulnerable whenever Bournemouth attacked quickly, while Erling Haaland was unable to make the most of the opportunities that came his way.
At half-time, Bournemouth deserved their advantage, with City needing a major improvement after the break.
Guéhi Misses Huge Chance Before Redemption
Maresca’s tactical experiment with Marc Guéhi in midfield attracted plenty of attention before and during the match. The England international was deployed in an unusual central midfield role alongside Elliot Anderson as City attempted to deal with their shortage of midfield options.
Guéhi then had a golden opportunity to equalise early in the second half. A corner caused chaos in the Bournemouth penalty area, and goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović lost his footing, leaving Guéhi with an open goal.
However, the City defender somehow headed wide.
It looked like it could become one of those moments that defined the match—but Guéhi eventually redeemed himself.
Guéhi Equalises Before Gvardiol Wins It
City continued pushing forward, with Rayan Cherki providing an attacking spark after coming off the bench. Maresca also introduced Mateo Kovačić and Matheus Nunes as City increased the pressure.
The changes eventually paid off.
In the 85th minute, Guéhi rose to meet a Cherki corner and headed Manchester City level. The defender had gone from being the player who missed a huge opportunity to becoming the player who gave City genuine hope of completing the comeback.
Then came the decisive moment.
Deep into stoppage time, Josko Gvardiol found the back of the net after being played through by Cherki. VAR checked the goal before confirming it, sparking huge celebrations inside the Etihad.
Gvardiol’s late strike completed a remarkable 2-1 comeback and handed Maresca three points in his first Premier League match as Manchester City manager.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 6.5/10: Had little chance with Tavernier’s finish. Made the saves required but was not heavily tested.
Rico Lewis – 6/10: Worked hard but City struggled to control the right side. Replaced by Matheus Nunes in the second half.
Rúben Dias – 6.5/10: Provided experience at the back but was part of a defence that looked vulnerable during Bournemouth’s transitions.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 6/10: Had some important defensive moments but City’s back line was far from convincing before the comeback.
Josko Gvardiol – 8/10: A mixed defensive performance became a match-winning one. His stoppage-time goal made him one of City’s heroes.
Marc Guéhi – 8/10: An eventful debut in midfield. Missed a massive chance but recovered brilliantly to score the equaliser.
Elliot Anderson – 6.5/10: Showed energy and helped City’s midfield, although he was forced off after appearing to suffer a muscular problem.
Phil Foden – 6.5/10: Worked hard and looked for openings but struggled to consistently influence the game.
Rayan Cherki – 8/10: One of City’s most important attacking players after coming on. His creativity was crucial, including his involvement in both late goals.
Erling Haaland – 6.5/10: Had opportunities but was unable to score. Bournemouth defended him aggressively and Petrović made several important interventions.
Nico O’Reilly – 6.5/10: Offered attacking width and made useful runs but was replaced by Cherki as Maresca searched for greater creativity.
Maresca Gets the Result He Needed
The performance was far from perfect, but the three points could prove extremely important for Maresca.
City still have clear issues to solve, particularly in midfield and defensive transition. The departure of Rodri has created a significant structural problem, and Maresca’s decision to use Guéhi in midfield highlighted the lack of natural options in that position. Reuters reported before the match that City were actively looking for a successor to Rodri.
City have also agreed a major deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, underlining their determination to strengthen the squad.
For Bournemouth, the defeat will be extremely frustrating. Marco Rose’s team defended impressively for long periods and were just minutes away from securing an impressive away victory.
For Manchester City, however, the headline is simple: they found a way to win.
The 2-1 victory gives Maresca a winning Premier League start and could provide the confidence City need as they begin a new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure.
