Manchester City begin a new Premier League era on Sunday when Bournemouth visit the Etihad Stadium for the opening game of the 2026/27 campaign.
For the first time in more than a decade, City will start a Premier League season without Pep Guardiola in the dugout. Enzo Maresca has inherited the job after replacing the legendary Spaniard in June, and his first competitive league match at the Etihad promises to be a fascinating occasion.
There is plenty for City supporters to watch.
The champions from recent years have undergone significant changes during the summer. Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho have all departed, while Maresca has been tasked with building a new team capable of competing at the top of the Premier League.
Maresca could make several interesting selections against Bournemouth, including a midfield structure designed to give Manchester City greater control in possession.
Donnarumma expected to start in goal
Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to retain his place between the posts despite an unconvincing performance in the Community Shield.
The Italian goalkeeper now wears City’s No.1 shirt and is expected to play an important role in Maresca’s system.
One of the biggest challenges will be improving his distribution. Maresca wants his side to build from the back, meaning Donnarumma could frequently become the first attacking outlet when City have possession.
That makes the Bournemouth match an important early test.
City supporters will want to see whether the goalkeeper can quickly adapt to the demands of his new manager and provide the confidence required behind a completely reorganised defence.
New-look defence could feature Guéhi
The predicted back four is Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi and Josko Gvardiol.
There is particular intrigue surrounding Guéhi.
The England international could return to the starting lineup after his recent return from holiday. His ability to defend while also contributing during City’s buildup could make him an important component of Maresca’s plans.
Dias, meanwhile, is expected to partner Guéhi at centre-back.
The Portuguese defender could also become City’s new official captain, adding another layer of importance to his role as the team begins life after Guardiola.
Gvardiol is predicted to start on the left. However, his role could be much more complicated than simply defending the left flank.
In possession, the Croatian could become part of the three-man structure behind City’s attacks, helping Maresca create numerical advantages as the team moves forward.
Nunes is expected to operate at right-back.
With City’s current shortage of natural wingers, the Portuguese midfielder could be given considerable freedom to push forward when City have the ball.
Anderson and Kovacic could form the midfield base
Perhaps the most interesting part of the predicted Manchester City XI is the midfield.
Elliot Anderson and Mateo Kovacic could form the double pivot.
The selection would give Maresca a combination of physicality, ball carrying and experience in the middle of the pitch.
Kovacic knows the Premier League extremely well, while Anderson has the opportunity to establish himself as an important player during Maresca’s first season.
Nico O’Reilly could then move into midfield from a more advanced position.
The academy graduate has previously demonstrated his ability to operate centrally, and Maresca could use his technical quality to help City control the game.
This would also allow Rayan Cherki to occupy a more advanced role.
Cherki is expected to receive another opportunity to demonstrate why City were so keen to bring him into the squad.
The French attacking midfielder could play between the lines and provide the creativity required to unlock a Bournemouth defence that is likely to spend periods defending deep.
Semenyo faces his former club
Antoine Semenyo could be one of the most interesting selections.
The forward is predicted to start on the left wing against his former club.
That would give the Ghanaian-born attacker an immediate opportunity to face Bournemouth after joining Manchester City.
Semenyo reportedly impressed during City’s pre-season preparations, and his pace and physical strength could provide Maresca with a different attacking option.
His familiarity with Bournemouth could also be useful.
The winger knows the opposition’s defenders and system, although the Premier League opener will represent a completely different challenge from a pre-season fixture.
For City, the priority will be converting possession into genuine chances.
Haaland remains the obvious choice up front
There is little mystery regarding who will lead the attack.
Erling Haaland is expected to start as City’s centre-forward.
The Norwegian remains one of the most dangerous goalscorers in world football and will be expected to carry a significant share of City’s goalscoring responsibility following the changes to the squad.
His presence also gives Maresca a clear reference point.
Rather than relying solely on intricate combinations around the penalty area, City can use Haaland’s movement and physical presence to attack Bournemouth’s defensive line.
The relationship between Haaland and the new-look midfield will be one of the biggest tactical questions at the Etihad.
Maresca’s 3-2-5 could be key
The predicted lineup suggests Maresca could use a 3-2-5 structure when Manchester City have possession.
That is particularly interesting because it demonstrates how the new manager may attempt to put his own stamp on the team.
The three defenders would provide the foundation, while Anderson and Kovacic would sit in front of them.
O’Reilly and Cherki could then operate higher up, with the full-backs and wide attackers helping City occupy the attacking five positions.
Without possession, City are expected to return to a 4-4-2 shape.
That transition will be crucial.
Bournemouth are capable of pressing aggressively and attacking space, so City cannot afford to lose their defensive structure when possession changes hands.
A new beginning at the Etihad
The Bournemouth fixture is about more than three points.
It represents the beginning of the Maresca era.
Guardiola’s departure inevitably creates enormous expectations for his successor. Maresca will not be judged on one match, but the opening performance could shape the atmosphere around the club during the early weeks of the season.
City also have something to prove after losing the Community Shield to Arsenal.
That defeat provided a reminder that the gap at the top of English football cannot be taken for granted.
Arsenal won the curtain-raiser 3-0, while Jeremy Doku suffered an injury that rules him out of the Premier League opener.
City therefore enter the Bournemouth match with plenty of motivation.
The departures of Rodri, Reijnders and Savinho have created questions about the squad, while the lack of further first-team additions before the opener has added to the intrigue surrounding Maresca’s selection.
The predicted Manchester City XI vs Bournemouth
Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Kovacic, O’Reilly, Cherki; Semenyo, Haaland.
Substitutes: Rulli, Khusanov, Reis, Lewis, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Foden, Grealish, Marmoush.
On paper, it is a team that combines experience with several players who could become central figures in the Maresca era.
The biggest questions concern the midfield, the new defensive structure and how quickly the players can understand their manager’s positional demands.
For Manchester City supporters, however, there is only one thing that ultimately matters.
After a summer of change, they want to see their team playing with purpose again.
Maresca’s first Premier League match at the Etihad gives him the perfect opportunity to begin that process.
A convincing victory over Bournemouth would not erase every concern surrounding the squad, but it would provide an important early statement.
The Guardiola era is over.
Now, the Maresca era officially begins at the Etihad.
