Manchester City needed late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol to beat Bournemouth 2-1 in Enzo Maresca's first Premier League game in charge. The Blues started strong in their first game at the Etihad since Pep Guardiola left the club, but some poor defending allowed Bournemouth to take a first-half lead.
Late drama at the Etihad
Guehi missed a simple chance from a corner, and it looked as though Maresca would be defeated on his home debut as the clock ticked down. However, the England man rose highest from Rayan Cherki's corner to spark joy and relief among the crowd.
City were roared on with hopes of a late winner, and Josko Gvardiol netted in injury time to send the Blues wild. The strike was initially ruled out for offside but overturned on VAR.
Player ratings from the Manchester Evening News
Donnarumma: Made a couple of decent saves to spare City further blushes on a day where he had very little to do. 7
Lewis: He was really good going forward and linking with Foden, but woeful at getting back and marking Bournemouth attackers. 5
Khusanov: Got in a mess for the move that led to Bournemouth's goal, and that wasn't his only wobble. 5
Dias: Still looks rusty and is a player that needs to be on top of his own game before he can help others properly. 5
Gvardiol: He wasn't as sharp defensively as he needed to be, but what a finish at the death. 5
Anderson: Won the ball back smartly and tried to dictate play but sometimes lost out as Bournemouth got physical. 6
Guehi: About as much of a defensive midfielder as Lewis is a right-back. Not his fault but still not good; at least his heading improved. 6
O'Reilly: One of City's better players, proving an attacking threat down the left even if he should have done better from a first-half corner. 6
Foden: There was willing, but there wasn't enough quality in the final third, and too often he went looking for the foul. 5
Semenyo: City's most dangerous outlet on the ball, albeit it felt like he got less threatening as the game went on. 6
Haaland: Some very good bits of play that were let down by obvious chances where he should have done better. 5
Substitutes
Nunes (for Lewis, 57): Some good runs and alive to dangers at the back. 6
Kovacic (for Anderson, 63): Got straight into the game and survived a few scares. 6
Cherki (for O'Reilly, 63): Good cross for the Guehi goal and then another assist for the winner. 7
Grealish (for Foden, 82): Nothing of note. 6
Not used: Rulli, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Gonzalez, Marmoush.
