Man City vs Wolves: Marmoush and Semenyo secure 2-0 Etihad win

Introduction — Why the Man City vs Wolves match mattered

Manchester City’s home meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers carried significance beyond three points. It was City’s first Premier League victory of 2026 and notable for a rare tactical change: Erling Haaland did not start a league game for the first time all season. The game offered an early-season glimpse of squad depth, new signings settling in and opportunities for fringe players to stake a claim.

Main body — Key events and details

Early breakthrough and the scorers

City opened the scoring on six minutes when Omar Marmoush, starting his first league game since August, reacted quickest to a precise cross from Matheus Nunes and finished from close range. The Egyptian forward’s predatory strike set the tone and gave Pep Guardiola’s side an early advantage at the Etihad.

Antoine Semenyo marks his start

Wolves remained under pressure and City doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time through Antoine Semenyo. The goal marked Semenyo’s first home Premier League start and capped a convincing first half for the hosts. Both Marmoush and Semenyo later struck the woodwork in the second half as City continued to probe.

Debut, changes and squad dynamics

City made five changes for the clash and handed Marc Guéhi a debut. Guéhi was quickly involved, seeing an early fifth-minute header from a Bernardo corner smartly saved by Wolves goalkeeper José Sá. The decision to bench Haaland was notable; the Norwegian was introduced in the second half alongside Phil Foden, and their directness unsettled Wolves as City managed the game to protect the lead.

Conclusion — What the result means

The 2-0 victory over Wolves provided Manchester City with momentum and demonstrated the squad’s depth, with fringe players seizing key moments. For Wolves, the match highlighted vulnerabilities to quick, incisive attacks. For readers, the result is a reminder that rotation and new signings can quickly influence outcomes in the Premier League — and that City remain capable of convincing wins even when their regular starters are rested.