Manchester City are back in action on Wednesday as Enzo Maresca takes charge of his second match since succeeding Pep Guardiola, with the Premier League champions set to face the K-League All Stars in Seoul.
Following an encouraging display against Inter despite losing on penalties, Maresca is expected to continue experimenting with his squad as preparations for the new campaign gather pace. With several senior internationals now back in the travelling party and wholesale substitutions likely once again, the fixture offers another opportunity for players to impress before competitive football returns.
The latest development
City’s pre-season began with plenty of encouraging signs against the Serie A champions. Although the match ended in a penalty shootout defeat, Maresca saw his side dominate large spells of the contest, controlling possession and creating significantly more chances than their opponents.
Divin Mubama wrote himself into the history books by scoring the first goal of the Maresca era, finishing from close range after good work from Antoine Semenyo. Inter responded quickly through Benjamin Pavard before neither side could find another breakthrough.
City were particularly impressive going forward, registering 24 shots compared to Inter’s 10, while Vitor Reis came closest to finding a winner when his powerful effort crashed against the crossbar.
The penalty shootout ultimately went against the Blues, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez all seeing their spot-kicks saved. Claudio Echeverri was City’s only successful penalty taker after confidently converting with a Panenka.
Despite the result, the performance gave Maresca plenty to build on as he continues implementing his ideas during the club’s tour of South Korea.
Fresh faces return to the squad
One of the biggest boosts ahead of Wednesday’s encounter is the return of several experienced first-team players.
Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Omar Marmoush have all rejoined the travelling squad after being granted an extended summer break following their involvement at the FIFA World Cup.
Their availability gives Maresca more options as he looks to gradually increase the workload of his senior internationals without risking unnecessary fatigue at this early stage of pre-season.
With another friendly to come before the new season begins, managing players’ minutes remains a priority, making widespread changes during the match highly likely.
Predicted Manchester City starting XI
Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to keep his place between the posts.
The Italian goalkeeper impressed against Inter with three saves during normal time before also denying a penalty in the shootout, making a strong case to start once again.
Ahead of him, Matheus Nunes could return to action at right-back after a relatively quiet World Cup. Rico Lewis delivered another composed performance against Inter, but with rotation expected throughout the squad, Nunes may be handed valuable minutes from the start.
Ruben Dias is tipped to make his first appearance of pre-season alongside Josko Gvardiol in central defence. Khusanov completed the full 90 minutes against Inter and could therefore be rested initially, while Gvardiol is expected to continue building his fitness after playing the opening half of Saturday’s contest.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is predicted to retain his place on the left side of defence after producing an encouraging second-half display against Inter. The Algerian created a major chance and looked threatening going forward, offering another reminder of his attacking qualities.
Midfield balance could be key
Without Rodri available, Nico Gonzalez is expected to continue anchoring City’s midfield.
The Spaniard made a noticeable impact after coming on against Inter, helping City establish greater control in possession. His passing rhythm stood out during the second half and he could now be rewarded with another opportunity from the opening whistle.
Alongside him, Mateo Kovacic is predicted to start as he continues his comeback after an injury-hit campaign. The Croatian’s experience could prove invaluable within a relatively youthful side as Maresca searches for the right balance during pre-season.
Phil Foden is also expected to feature after captaining City in the opening friendly. Although he did not get on the scoresheet, the England international remained one of City’s most creative players, producing three big chances for his teammates.
With Maresca reportedly placing considerable trust in Foden, building his sharpness before the Premier League campaign begins appears to be one of the manager’s priorities.
Young talents set for another opportunity
City’s attack could once again feature an exciting blend of academy prospects and emerging first-team players.
Ryan McAidoo is predicted to earn another start after catching the eye against Inter. The youngster’s lively display has further strengthened his reputation as one to watch, particularly while speculation surrounding Savinho’s future continues.
Leading the line, Divin Mubama is expected to keep his place after opening his account under Maresca in the previous match. With Erling Haaland unavailable, another start would provide the striker with another valuable opportunity to impress.
Completing the front three is Claudio Echeverri, who looked bright after coming off the bench against Inter. While his City career is still in its early stages, the arrival of a new manager offers a fresh chance to establish himself, and a start against the K-League All Stars could represent another important step in that process.
Predicted starting XI
Manchester City (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Nico Gonzalez, Kovacic, Foden; McAidoo, Mubama, Echeverri.
The substitutes are expected to include Bettinelli, Wint, Chabot, Alleyne, Mfuni, Khusanov, Reis, Braithwaite, Henderson-Hall, Lewis, Reijnders, Mukasa, Samba, Heskey, Parker, Monga, Savinho, Semenyo, Marmoush and Sangare, with Maresca likely to rotate heavily throughout the second half.
What this means for City
While results remain secondary during pre-season, Wednesday’s fixture represents another valuable opportunity for Enzo Maresca to assess his squad ahead of the new campaign. The return of senior figures such as Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes should add greater balance to the side, while youngsters including Divin Mubama, Ryan McAidoo and Claudio Echeverri have another chance to strengthen their claims for regular first-team involvement.
With fitness, tactical understanding and squad evaluation taking priority, Manchester City supporters will be watching closely to see how Maresca’s ideas continue to develop before competitive action gets underway.
