Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth Cherki Inspires Dramatic Late Comeback

Manchester City began their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, as substitute Rayan Cherki provided two crucial assists to turn the match around in the final minutes.

The result also gave Enzo Maresca a winning start to his first Premier League campaign as Manchester City manager, although his side were made to work hard for all three points after falling behind in the first half.

Tavernier Puts Bournemouth Ahead

Manchester City created the first opportunities of the match, with Rico Lewis denied by Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic before Erling Haaland failed to make the most of a promising attack.

Bournemouth, however, took the lead in the 26th minute.

After Evanilson delivered a dangerous cross from the right, Marcus Tavernier arrived at the right moment to sweep the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and put the hosts 1-0 ahead.

City struggled to respond before half-time. Haaland did have a header saved by Petrovic, but Bournemouth created several opportunities of their own to extend their advantage.

Tavernier curled an effort wide from outside the box, while Justin Kluivert forced a save from Donnarumma.

City Struggle to Find a Way Back

Manchester City continued to dominate possession after the break but struggled to create clear opportunities.

Bournemouth also missed a huge chance when Marc Guehi found himself unmarked inside the box but headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

That miss would prove costly.

Guehi later became City's unlikely hero when he scored the equaliser in the 84th minute.

Cherki Changes the Game

The turning point came in the 63rd minute when Maresca introduced Rayan Cherki from the bench.

The French midfielder immediately gave City greater creativity and attacking intensity.

Cherki's impact was decisive.

His corner from the right found Marc Guehi, who powered a header past Petrovic to make it 1-1.

With momentum firmly on City's side, Cherki produced another moment of quality in stoppage time.

The substitute slipped a pass into the path of Josko Gvardiol, who showed excellent composure to control the ball before firing into the bottom-left corner.

The goal was initially reviewed by VAR for a possible offside, but it was eventually awarded, sparking huge celebrations on the Manchester City bench.

Maresca Starts With a Win

The victory means Maresca becomes the latest Manchester City manager to win his opening Premier League match.

City have now won the opening league game under each of their last five managers, including interim appointments. The last City manager to lose his opening Premier League match was Mark Hughes, who suffered a 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa in August 2008.

However, the performance will give Maresca plenty to think about.

City looked disjointed for long periods and struggled to turn their possession into clear chances. Despite that, they finished the match with an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.36, compared with Bournemouth's 0.63.

The introduction of Cherki ultimately changed the game.

The Frenchman became the first Manchester City substitute to provide two assists in a single Premier League match since Ilkay Gündogan against Leeds United in December 2021.

Bournemouth's Long Unbeaten Run Ends

For Bournemouth, the defeat brought an end to an impressive Premier League unbeaten run.

The Cherries had gone 18 Premier League matches without defeat, recording eight wins and 10 draws under Andoni Iraola during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.

Their previous Premier League defeat had come against Arsenal in their first match of 2026.

Marco Rose's first competitive match in charge therefore ended in disappointment, despite Bournemouth producing a disciplined performance for much of the game.

Manchester City vs Bournemouth: Key Takeaways

• Manchester City won 2-1 after trailing 1-0 until the 84th minute.
• Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead in the first half.
• Rayan Cherki provided two assists after coming off the bench.
• Marc Guehi scored City's equaliser.
• Josko Gvardiol scored the stoppage-time winner.
• Enzo Maresca began his Premier League tenure with a victory.
• Bournemouth's 18-match unbeaten run came to an end.

What This Win Means for Manchester City

Manchester City's dramatic comeback provides Maresca with the perfect result, but the performance suggests there is still plenty of work to do.

The biggest positive was the impact of Cherki, whose creativity transformed City's attack after his introduction. If the Frenchman can maintain that level of influence throughout the season, he could become an important player in Maresca's system.

For Bournemouth, the defeat will be frustrating after such a strong performance for most of the match. However, their ability to compete with the reigning champions for more than 80 minutes offers plenty of encouragement for the season ahead.