Maresca Secures First Manchester City Win on Asia Tour Against K-League All Stars

Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City secured their first pre-season victory under new manager Enzo Maresca, defeating the K-League All Stars 3-1 in a friendly match on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The fixture, held as part of City's extensive Asia Tour, marked a significant milestone for Maresca, who took the helm following Pep Guardiola's departure at the close of the 2025/26 season.

The match saw Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's goals clinically dispatched by Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani ReijndersPlayer·Tijjani Reijnders, and Divin MubamaPlayer·Divin Mubama, sealing a comfortable win. This result follows their previous pre-season outing, a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in Hong Kong, which concluded with a penalty shootout loss.

Notably absent from the squad was star striker Erling HaalandPlayer·Erling Haaland, who, along with key players Jérémy DokuPlayer·Jérémy Doku, Rayan CherkiPlayer·Rayan Cherki, and Marc Guéhi, was granted an extended break after their participation in the recent FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup. Their absence provided an opportunity for other squad members to impress Maresca as he continues to assess his options for the upcoming campaign.

Players such as Matheus NunesPlayer·Matheus Nunes, Ruben DiasPlayer·Ruben Dias, and Omar MarmoushPlayer·Omar Marmoush, who had also returned from World Cup duties, featured prominently, alongside established talents like Phil FodenPlayer·Phil Foden and SavinhoPlayer·Savinho. As is customary in pre-season friendlies, wholesale changes were implemented at half-time, allowing a broad spectrum of the squad to gain valuable playing minutes and integrate into Maresca's tactical framework.

The summer transfer window has been a period of notable activity for Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City. The club made a significant acquisition with the record-breaking £116 million signing of England international midfielder Elliot AndersonPlayer·Elliot Anderson. Concurrently, the squad saw the departures of long-serving figures including John StonesPlayer·John Stones, Bernardo SilvaPlayer·Bernardo Silva, and Nathan Aké, signaling a transitional phase for the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League giants.

This pre-season tour is crucial for Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City as they prepare for the 2026-27 season, with the clear objective of reclaiming the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League title after two successive seasons without lifting the trophy. Their next challenge on the pre-season schedule is an encounter with Atletico MadridTeam·Atletico Madrid on August 9, followed by the Community Shield clash against ArsenalTeam·Arsenal on August 16. The Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League season proper will commence for City with a home fixture against Bournemouth on August 23.