LONDON – Manchester City got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 Premier League win over a struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium. It was City’s first league victory of 2026, and it came in a convincing performance from start to finish.
The result snapped Pep Guardiola’s side out of a four-match winless run in the Premier League. It also moved them closer to the top of the table, which should help after a tricky start to the year. First-half goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo settled it, as Manchester City turned control and quick passing into clear chances.
Marmoush Strikes First
City made the breakthrough in the 18th minute. Marmoush, stepping in with Erling Haaland rested, took a sharp through ball from Rodri, held off his marker, and finished neatly past José Sá. It was calm, direct, and exactly what City’s early pressure deserved.
Despite not starting regularly of late, Marmoush looked sharp. His movement kept Wolves’ defenders busy and showed Guardiola has options even without his usual centre-forward.
Semenyo Makes It Two Before Half-Time
City doubled their lead late in the first half after another strong spell. In the 42nd minute, Antoine Semenyo pounced on a loose ball after a quick break and hammered a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. Sá had no chance.
Semenyo has added pace and purpose out wide since joining, and this was another big moment for him. With Haaland on the bench, City’s depth stood out, and the home crowd enjoyed a comfortable first 45 minutes.
City See It Out, Guehi Impresses on Debut
After the break, City managed the match well. They kept the ball, slowed the tempo when needed, and allowed Wolves only the odd counter-attack. New signing Marc Guéhi, making his first appearance after a mid-season move, looked composed. He defended firmly, moved the ball well, and helped City keep a clean sheet.
Wolves, stuck at the bottom of the table, had a couple of brief moments through Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan, but they struggled to create clear openings. They also failed to seriously trouble Ederson in the second half.
Guardiola brought Haaland on late, but City didn’t need another goal. The win leaves them four points behind leaders Arsenal, with games in hand giving them a real chance to close the gap.
Match Highlights
- 18′ GOAL Manchester City 1-0 Wolves: Omar Marmoush finishes with control after Rodri splits the defence with a pass.
- 42′ GOAL Manchester City 2-0 Wolves: Antoine Semenyo blasts in from range after a quick transition.
- 55′ Chance Wolves: Cunha heads just over from a corner.
- 68′ Debut impact: Marc Guéhi steps in with a key interception to stop Hwang.
- 82′ Haaland introduction: Erling Haaland comes on to a big reaction, but City keep things under control.
City led the game in the stats, too. They had over 65% possession, took 18 shots (7 on target), and completed more than 600 passes at a high success rate. Wolves managed 6 shots (1 on target).
Manchester City Team Performance Table
| Player | Position | Minutes | Key Stats | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ederson | GK | 90 | Clean sheet, 1 save | 7.5 |
| Rúben Dias | CB | 90 | 4 tackles, 3 clearances | 8.0 |
| Marc Guéhi | CB (debut) | 90 | 2 interceptions, solid passing | 8.0 |
| Joško Gvardiol | LB | 90 | 85% pass accuracy, 1 assist chance | 7.8 |
| Kyle Walker | RB | 78 | Overlapping runs, defensive cover | 7.6 |
| Rodri | CM | 90 | Assist, 92% pass accuracy | 9.0 |
| Bernardo Silva | CM | 90 | 3 key passes | 8.2 |
| Phil Foden | AM | 85 | Creative threat, 4 dribbles | 8.1 |
| Antoine Semenyo | RW | 90 | Goal, 2 shots on target | 8.8 |
| Omar Marmoush | LW | 90 | Goal, constant danger | 8.7 |
| Julián Álvarez | ST | 70 | Link-up play | 7.4 |
| Erling Haaland (sub) | ST | 20 | Late cameo | 6.8 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team Performance Table
| Player | Position | Minutes | Key Stats | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Sá | GK | 90 | 5 saves, couldn’t stop either goal | 6.2 |
| Nélson Semedo | RB | 90 | Struggled against Marmoush | 5.8 |
| Craig Dawson | CB | 90 | 5 clearances, under pressure | 6.0 |
| Toti Gomes | CB | 90 | 3 tackles, exposed at times | 5.9 |
| Rayan Aït-Nouri | LB | 90 | Occasional overlaps | 6.1 |
| João Gomes | CM | 90 | Booked, battled in midfield | 6.3 |
| Mario Lemina | CM | 78 | 88% pass accuracy | 6.4 |
| Matheus Cunha | AM | 90 | Best Wolves chance, header wide | 6.7 |
| Hwang Hee-chan | RW | 90 | Isolated, limited service | 5.9 |
| Jørgen Strand Larsen | ST | 70 | Little impact | 5.7 |
| Pablo Sarabia | LW | 65 | Subbed early | 5.8 |
City will take plenty of confidence from a clean, controlled win as tougher fixtures come up. Wolves, though, stay deep in relegation trouble and need quick fixes at both ends of the pitch.
