City open the 2026/27 Premier League season at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, hosting Bournemouth in Enzo Maresca’s first competitive home game in charge.
The new era got off to an uncomfortable start — a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard sealing it. Maresca will want a response in front of his own supporters.
Team news
City go into the game short of options in key areas. Rodri, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes are all unavailable, leaving Maresca to shuffle his midfield and attack for the visit of a Bournemouth side who pushed City hard in both meetings last season.
No confirmed XI has been settled on this early. However, Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden are expected to carry the creative load in behind Erling Haaland, with summer signing Elliot Anderson in line for a midfield role.
Bournemouth have an even longer list of absentees under new boss Marco Rose.
Eli Junior Kroupi, Veljko Milosavljevic, Amine Adli, David Brooks, Tyler Adams and Julian Araújo are all out through injury, while Ryan Christie is suspended.
It’s a testing opening assignment for Rose, whose side finished sixth last season and held City to a 1-1 draw at Dean Court in May, Kroupi cancelling out an early goal before Haaland struck a stoppage-time equaliser.
Man City possible XI: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Kovačić; Semenyo, Foden, Ait Nouri; Haaland
Bournemouth possible XI: Petrović; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Scott, Rayan; Tavernier, Kluivert; Evanilson
Match details
| Competition | Premier League, Matchweek 1 |
| Date | Sunday 23 August 2026 |
| Kick-off | 2pm BST (13:00 GMT) |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium |
| Referee | TBC |
How to watch
| UK TV | Sky Sports Main Event |
| UK Streaming | Sky Go, Sky Go Extra, NOW TV |
| Live text/clips | mancity.com Matchday Centre, Official Man City app |
| Club coverage | @ManCity on X for key moments |
