Maresca expects aggressive Bournemouth in Premier League opener

Manchester City will open their Premier League campaign in round 1 against Bournemouth on 23 August 2026. It will be Enzo Maresca’s first league match in charge at the Etihad Stadium, with the City manager preparing for a demanding contest.

Maresca expects Bournemouth to maintain the intense, forceful style they displayed under former coach Andoni Iraola. He believes Marco Rose has preserved that identity and that City have a clear understanding of how their opponents will operate with and without the ball.

The meeting also brings together teams that drew 1-1 in their previous encounter. City’s last five matches produced three wins, one draw and one defeat, while Bournemouth arrive unbeaten across the same period, with three victories and two draws.

City’s recent results included a 3-0 win over Brentford, a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace and a 1-0 success over Chelsea. Their run also contained a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth and a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. Bournemouth beat Crystal Palace 3-0, Fulham 1-0 and FC St. Pauli 4-1, while drawing 1-1 with Nottingham Forest and City.

Maresca will also be without Jeremy Doku for the match. The winger reported calf pain at half-time in the previous game, and the planned substitution was made after 45 minutes. His expected absence is between two and three weeks.

The City manager has also refused to discuss speculation connecting the club with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández. Maresca said Fernández remains a Chelsea player and that speaking about another club’s footballers would be disrespectful, adding that he dislikes rival managers discussing his own squad members.