Man City vs Wolves: Marmoush and Semenyo fire City to 2-0 win

Introduction — Why Man City vs Wolves mattered

The Man City vs Wolves match carried early-season significance as Manchester City sought momentum in the Premier League. The fixture was notable for personnel changes, a rare omission from the starting XI and the chance for fringe players to stake a claim. Fans and analysts watched closely at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola adjusted his attack and Wolves looked to respond.

Main body — Key events and details

Early breakthrough and team changes

City opened the scoring in the opening stages when Omar Marmoush finished from close range in the sixth minute after pouncing on a precise cross from Matheus Nunes. Marmoush was starting his first league game since August and made an immediate impact. The win was Manchester City’s first Premier League victory of 2026 and came amid several changes to the home side’s lineup.

Semenyo, debut impression and second goal

Antoine Semenyo added the second just before half-time, marking his first home Premier League start with a goal on the stroke of the interval. That strike gave City a comfortable lead going into the break. Reports also noted that Marc Guéhi impressed on his debut, with an early header tested and needing to be saved by Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa.

Second half and substitutes

In the second half both Marmoush and Semenyo had efforts that struck the woodwork, while Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were introduced from the bench as City managed the game. Haaland had not started a league game all season prior to this fixture, making his omission from the starting XI a talking point before he came on. Overall, a change in personnel in attack proved effective for City.

Conclusion — Implications and outlook

Man City’s 2-0 victory over Wolves at the Etihad highlighted the squad depth Guardiola can call upon and offered a timely confidence boost. Marmoush and Semenyo seized rare opportunities to influence the result, while substitutions helped preserve control. For supporters, the match underlined that rotation can pay dividends; for Wolves, it was a reminder of the fine margins at this level. Looking ahead, City will aim to build on this result as the season progresses and contenders jostle for consistency.