City arrive at the home of their neighbours seeking a fifth win from five in all competitions, having already dispatched Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City in the league before Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League success against FC Porto.

That European night carried its own slice of history. Erling Haaland's goal took him to 167 for the club, making him City's third-highest scorer of all time.

Selection News

Anderson's inclusion comes after he joined from Nottingham Forest in June, and he lines up alongside Fernandez in the centre of midfield.

Nico O'Reilly is back among the substitutes after the back problem that ruled him out of the starting XI against Coventry City, with Maresca confirming the England international is "100 percent" ready.

Jeremy Doku, though, remains sidelined. The calf injury he picked up in August's 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal has kept him out of every competitive fixture this season, and Maresca said on Friday that the Belgian needs "some more days" before he can be considered.

Antoine Semenyo continues in his absence, the Ghana international having struck up a productive understanding with Haaland in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Marc Guehi and Ruben Dias keep their places at centre-back after back-to-back clean sheets, and they will be tested by what Maresca has called the most direct attack in the Premier League, with United playing more balls in behind than any other side this season.

There is a cautionary note from last season, when City were beaten 2-0 in this fixture. Michael Carrick takes charge of United for the first time following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

Michael Oliver will officiate. City have lost just twice in their last 10 Premier League games under him.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 16:30 UK.

The Teams

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.

Substitutes: Rulli, Ndiaye, Kovacic, Reis, Bouaddi, O'Reilly, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis.

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Dorgu; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

Substitutes: Darlow, Heaven, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Santos, Lacey, Sesko, Zirkzee.

Ahead of today's 199th Manchester derby at Old Trafford, the Moroccan international summed up his approach without a flicker of anxiety. "When you were a kid and you watch football, you want to play [in] the biggest games," he told mancity.com. "And I think this game this weekend is going to be a really good game against United – the derby – so of course it's an important game for us, for the fans, for everyone."

"When you were a kid and you watch football, you want to play [in] the biggest games. And I think this game this weekend is going to be a really good game against United – the derby – so of course it's an important game for us, for the fans, for everyone."

That he is even in the conversation for a fixture of this size tells you plenty. Bouaddi arrived from Lille towards the end of the summer transfer window, earmarked as one of the top midfield prospects in world football. Plenty of teenagers carry that label into a new country and spend a season shrinking under it. This one has gone the other way.

His first start for City came earlier this week in the 2-0 win over FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. A Champions League night in Portugal, away from home, with the noise and the pressure that comes with it. Not a bad place to make your full debut.

Elliot Anderson certainly didn't need telling. "He's such a good player – obviously everyone's seeing it, you know, first start in the Champions League for City the other night," the England international said. "He was very, very good. Everyone's really happy with the way he played, especially at such a young age."

Anderson, who has been around the Premier League long enough to know what a young player needs, has taken on a bit of responsibility himself. "There's a responsibility on me, obviously having played in the Premier League before, to help him settle in," he added. "And he's doing that really well, he's top."

Bouaddi, for his part, is not pretending he has it all figured out. The 18-year-old is happy to sit and watch, to ask, to take notes. He name-checked Anderson, Mateo Kovačić and Enzo Fernández as the men he studies most closely – the ones who do what he wants to do.

"I think I can learn from everyone. But of course, I would especially watch the players who play the same position as me. So Elliot [Anderson], Kova [Mateo Kovačić], Enzo [Fernández], and the other midfielders – they are all great players with experience and can teach me a lot."

"I know that I still have a lot to learn from all the players hopefully," he said. "I'm at Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I have a great player next to me [Elliot Anderson] so I can only learn here and enjoy."

It is the sort of thing you hear from a young player who has been media-trained to within an inch of his life. Except Bouaddi says it like he means it, and his performances so far suggest he does. Enzo Maresca has been watching closely. If he decides the teenager is ready for Old Trafford, there is no indication Bouaddi will treat it as anything other than another chance to learn.

The 199th Manchester derby is a big game for City. For an 18-year-old who has been in the door five minutes, it is the kind of occasion he has been waiting for since he was a kid watching on television. He is not hiding from it.

The fixture carries a weight that no other domestic game can match: 145 years of history, two clubs separated by just 4 miles, and a rivalry that began in 1881.

United hold the historical edge with 81 wins to City's 62, while 55 meetings have ended in draws. But recent form tells a different story. In the last 10 derbies, City have won six and United three.

For Enzo Maresca, this is a first taste of the fixture as City manager. He replaced Pep Guardiola, whose 10 seasons on the City touchline yielded a Premier League derby record of 10 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws, plus an FA Cup final victory over United — the first ever Manchester Derby FA Cup final.

Across the city, Michael Carrick has been rewarded with a permanent contract after a successful interim spell at the end of last season. That run included a Manchester Derby win and secured United's return to Champions League football.

Maresca, by contrast, has had a busy summer of big spending and has started the season with three straight wins.

Sunday's meeting will be the first between the two managers.

Today he walks into Old Trafford for the 199th Manchester derby, a ground where he has scored eight goals in ten matches against United. That record alone would make him the obvious trump card. The fact he is arriving in this sort of form makes him something closer to a certainty.

Enzo Maresca has tweaked the approach this season. Haaland is more involved in build-up, less of a static target, and the team looks for him in behind more often than they did under Pep Guardiola. The result is a striker who is both a focal point and a runner — a difficult combination to defend.

He has still missed chances. Coventry City and FC Porto both saw him pass up opportunities he would normally take. That is the nature of a centre-forward who operates on such fine margins. The difference is that he is now getting into positions to miss them, and three headers in three games suggests the service from wide areas is improving.

United will know what is coming. Crosses from the flanks, early balls in behind, and a physical presence in the box that few defenders enjoy facing. Whether they can stop it is another matter. Haaland's derby record suggests they have struggled before.

Maresca will set up to exploit that. The 199th derby is a chance for City to make a statement, and Haaland is the most likely author of it. If the headers keep landing, Old Trafford could be in for a long afternoon.

Manchester City head into today's Premier League derby against Manchester United on a four-match winning streak, but manager Enzo Maresca has identified a key area his side must control: transitions. The Blues have been susceptible to being played through in midfield or vulnerable to quick attacks, a weakness that all four of their recent opponents have exploited.

"Be ourselves. It's important also because it's a test to be ourselves," Maresca said on Friday. "In terms of them, I think it's quite clear: very dangerous, don't need many passes, quite direct, recovering the ball. They're probably in this moment in the Premier League [the team] with more balls in behind. So it's quite clear they recover and try contact in-behind. We need to be careful in transitions, and cover space in behind."

United's Threat in Behind

Manchester United, managed by Michael Carrick, possess the weapons to exploit this area. Bruno Fernandes is always a threat to find his teammates in behind, and the pace of Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha could trouble City if they lose possession in dangerous areas or their midfield is played through. United's ability to get in behind their opponents' defence quickly is a strength of their play.

City's setup, which involves inverting one full-back, opens up space for opponents. All four of their recent opponents—Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Coventry City, and FC Porto—have created openings this way. However, against FC Porto, City's offside trap quelled the threat exceptionally well, showing they are grasping Maresca's requirement.

Maresca's Message

Maresca's emphasis on being careful in transitions and covering space in behind will be crucial. If City can replicate their Porto performance, they stand a good chance of extending their winning run. But United's pace and Fernandes' vision mean any lapse could be punished.

The derby kicks off today, and all eyes will be on how City manage this key battle.

The 21-year-old picked up a back problem in the warm-up before the 1-0 win over Coventry City last weekend and was missing from the matchday squad for the game in Porto. His return is a welcome relief for Maresca, who had named O'Reilly in the starting eleven for his first three games in charge before the injury.

“Nico is 100% available,” Maresca said.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is also available for selection. The Algerian came on as a substitute on Tuesday evening and provided the assist for Haaland's second goal, offering Maresca another option on the left flank.

Josko Gvardiol started at left-back against Porto midweek, but with O'Reilly and Ait-Nouri both fit, the manager now has decisions to make.

Jeremy Doku, however, remains on the treatment table. The Belgian sustained a calf injury in the first half of the Community Shield against Arsenal last month, and Maresca had previously stated that the winger would be out for 2 to 3 weeks. He now says that the player is still more days away from making his comeback.

Doku's absence against United will be keenly felt. His direct running and ability to stretch defences have been a feature of City's play, and his unavailability leaves a gap that Maresca must fill from within his squad.

For now, the focus shifts to the derby, where City will look to build on their recent form. The return of O'Reilly and Ait-Nouri gives Maresca options, but the wait for Doku continues.

The City manager, taking charge of his first Manchester derby from the dugout, has overseen a significant rebuild of the squad since his arrival. With Hugo Viana, the sporting director who succeeded Txiki Begiristain in July last year, Maresca has reshaped the midfield at a cost of just over £440 million.

That outlay has brought Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi to the Etihad. Fernandez arrived from Chelsea for £125 million on deadline day, while Anderson joined in July for £116 million from Nottingham Forest. The former Forest man described City as the "Kings of Manchester" upon his arrival, having seen Manchester United pull out of the move amidst financial restraints.

Maresca said: "I feel very lucky because these three players arrived, the three midfielders, Enzo, Elliot and Ayyoub."

Anderson has settled quickly, featuring in all three of City's Premier League victories under the new manager. His impact has been immediate, and the derby at Old Trafford will provide another test of his credentials.

City go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over FC Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday. That result extended their strong start to the campaign, though the visit to face Michael Carrick's side represents a different challenge entirely.

For Maresca, it is a first taste of the Manchester derby as the man in charge. He was part of Pep Guardiola's staff during the 2022/23 Treble-winning season, when City became the first English side since United in 1999 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Only a handful of players from that squad remain, a measure of the transformation that has taken place in recent years.

Now the responsibility falls on Maresca to navigate a fixture that carries weight beyond the league table. A trip to Old Trafford always does, but for a new manager with a rebuilt midfield, the stakes feel particularly high.

Maresca confirmed on Friday that Nico O'Reilly is available after a minor back injury sustained in the warm-up before last Saturday's win over Coventry City. Jeremy Doku, however, will not feature. The Belgian winger has been out since the FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal with a calf problem, and this game has come too soon for him.

Doku may return for the Carabao Cup tie against Norwich City or the Premier League visit of Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium next Sunday. Beyond those two, City have a clean bill of health.

On the pitch, City arrive on the back of four consecutive wins in all competitions. The most recent, a 2-0 victory at FC Porto, was arguably their most impressive performance of the young 2026-27 season. United, by contrast, have been patchy under Michael Carrick.

Maresca's team selection poses a few questions. Elliot Anderson is expected to return to the starting lineup. The main call is whether Maresca opts for Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez in midfield, which would mean leaving out Rayan Cherki. Cherki remains a tempting option given his knack for creating something from nothing.

At right-back, Abdukodir Khusanov could come in for Matheus Nunes. Khusanov's recovery pace might be needed from the start given United's counter-attacking threat.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is later today.

Manchester City's £125m capture of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea was preceded by two written transfer requests from the midfielder, according to reporter Matt Law. The Argentina international pushed hard for the move before it was completed on Deadline Day.

Chelsea were also informed that Fernandez's relationship with all of his teammates had broken down, as reported by Matt Law. The breakdown in relations at Stamford Bridge added another layer to a transfer that had been building throughout the window.

Sky Sports reported at the time that the 25-year-old wanted to join City, while Chelsea maintained throughout negotiations that they would not sell him cheaply. The London club held firm on their valuation, but City eventually equalled the British transfer record to secure the World Cup winner's signature.

Fernandez signed a five-year contract, keeping him at the Etihad until 2031. The deal was finalised on Deadline Day, bringing an end to a saga that had seen the player force the issue with his written requests.

After completing the move, Fernandez said he "could not be happier" and described City as a club "built for success". His arrival adds further quality to a midfield that already boasts some of the best in the league.

Interestingly, none of the Chelsea players who remained at Stamford Bridge this season publicly wished their former vice-captain good luck following his move to City. A telling silence, perhaps, but not one that will trouble anyone in blue.

Manchester City travel to Old Trafford on Sunday for their first major test of the 2026-27 Premier League season. Enzo Maresca's side have won all three of their league fixtures so far, while Manchester United have won, drawn and lost once each in their opening three matches.

Haaland finds his groove

Erling Haaland has shaken off a rusty start to the campaign, scoring five goals in his last three games in all competitions. That run includes the winner in City's 1-0 defeat of Coventry City and a match-winning brace in Porto on Wednesday. The Norwegian looks back to his sharpest just in time for a trip to Old Trafford.

O'Reilly poised for return

Nico O'Reilly is set to return after missing City's last two games with a back issue sustained during a warmup session before the Coventry match. The 21-year-old defender's availability gives Maresca another option, though the manager will be cautious about throwing him straight into a derby. Josko Gvardiol has filled the void effectively in his absence.

United's defensive frailties

Manchester United have conceded twice in each of their first three top-flight matches, an unwanted record not seen since the 2020-21 campaign. That defensive fragility will be tested by a City side that has clicked into gear under Maresca. Both teams won their respective Champions League games in midweek, so confidence should be high on both sides of the city.

City have two more games before the season's first international break later this month. But first, all eyes are on the derby.

That first loan came after he fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola. Everton declined to make the move permanent, despite City offering a £50 million option to buy. So back he went to the Etihad for pre-season and the opening weeks of this campaign, and there were those who thought a comeback under new manager Enzo Maresca might just be on.

He played in the FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. He played in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on the opening weekend. Then another exit was agreed, and back to Everton he went.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Grealish addressed his future. "That's the main thing," he said, without elaborating on what the main thing actually was. Make of that what you will.

It is a long way from 2021, when City invested £100 million to bring the former Aston Villa captain from Villa Park. He was instrumental in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble triumph of 2023.

Now the attacking options at City look rather different. Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku provide the width, while summer recruits Iliman Ndiaye and Allan Elias have added further competition. Ndiaye, for his part, rejected a move to Tottenham in favour of a deadline day switch to Manchester City — a decision that looks smarter with every passing week.

Grealish's City story is winding down. Whether it ends with a free transfer next summer or something else, the final chapter is being written away from the Etihad.

Manchester City are among the clubs keeping an eye on PSV Eindhoven's Paul Wanner, according to reports. The 20-year-old German midfielder has also been linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation closely.

Wanner operates as a number ten or in central midfield, and his passing, vision and technical ability in the final third mark him out as a player who can create chances for those around him. The suggestion is that he has the tools to play for a big club down the line, though he would need to develop further before he is ready for the Premier League.

The €50m question

PSV value him at €50 million and will not let him leave without a fight. For a player still largely unproven at the highest level, that figure looks steep, and any interested club would presumably look to negotiate something more sensible. It remains to be seen where he ends up.

Liverpool, for their part, are reportedly gathering reports on his performances and development as they look to add creativity and mobility in the middle of the park. They believe Wanner could be an interesting option, and their record with young players suggests they could play a key role in his growth if they get serious.

Bayern's presence in the race is worth noting. The chance to join the biggest German club could be tempting for a young German international, and that pull is not something City or Liverpool can easily counter.

City's interest, if it firms up, would fit a familiar pattern of targeting technically gifted midfielders. Whether they view Wanner as a first-team option or one for the future is unclear. At 20, with a €50m price tag and a host of clubs watching, this is one to file under 'monitor' rather than 'imminent'.

The first Manchester derby of the season arrives on Sunday, with City travelling to Old Trafford. It is Maresca's first real big test in charge of the Blues.

Form book offers little comfort

City's start has been superb — three wins from three in the league, the Porto victory in Europe, and a view from the summit of the Premier League standings. The caveat is written into the fixture list itself. City were beaten last time out at Old Trafford, and Maresca's side will need to be sharper than they were for spells against Porto.

Josko Gvardiol was poor against Porto, which opens the door for a reshuffle at the back. Nico O'Reilly should be fit, a useful boost given the defensive questions. Ayyoub Bouaddi was superb against Porto, though the predicted XI suggests he may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Elliot Anderson dropped to the bench for the Porto game and should come back in. Jeremy Doku is unlikely to be fit, robbing City of a direct option out wide.

Predicted City lineup

Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal. Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi form the back line in front of him, with Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson in midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez. Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki support Erling Haaland in attack.

It is a lineup with plenty of craft but a few question marks about legs in wide areas without Doku. Maresca has backed his squad so far and been rewarded. Old Trafford on derby day is a different kind of examination.

City head to Old Trafford on the back of four straight wins in all competitions, the most recent a 2-0 victory over FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão on Tuesday night. Yet the squad that travelled to Portugal was missing two names, and their potential return would hand Maresca a timely selection dilemma.

The State Of Play

Doku hasn't featured since the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield in mid-August. A calf injury has kept him out of all four matches since, a three-week absence that explains the caution around his comeback. He has returned to training, but Maresca was careful not to overpromise when asked about the pair on Monday.

"Nico probably yes, Jeremy we're not sure yet, we need to wait. Jeremy got injured in the Community Shield. That's three weeks ago."

He added: "But he's back, I don't know if available for the weekend but slowly, slowly he's coming back."

O'Reilly's situation is more straightforward. A minor back injury sustained in the warm-up before City's 1-0 win over Frank Lampard's side has kept him out of the Coventry City and Porto matches, but the England international has already played twice this season and Maresca rates him the stronger bet for Old Trafford.

What It Means For Sunday

Should both be passed fit, O'Reilly is the likelier starter. Doku, after three weeks on the sidelines, would more plausibly occupy a place on the bench, with City expected to manage his return carefully rather than throw him straight back into a derby.

The pair are important players for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, and their availability would be a significant fillip for a squad that has started the campaign in convincing fashion. City entered the Porto match with only O'Reilly and Doku unavailable — a rare luxury in a season's opening weeks.

Confirmation should arrive later today, when Maresca sits down for his pre-game press conference. The fitness of the duo will be among the first items on the agenda, and no doubt the manager knows exactly how much their return would mean ahead of a trip to face Manchester United.

The 18-year-old, signed from Lille for €95m plus €5m in add-ons, played 75 minutes in the Champions League opener against the Portuguese champions. He completed 55 passes at 98 per cent accuracy, a statistic that drew particular satisfaction from Enzo Maresca.

Maresca said Bouaddi's maturity was a key factor in the club's decision to pursue the Morocco international so aggressively. The City boss also noted how calm the teenager has appeared since arriving from Lille, where he had already played almost 100 senior games.

I think we've got a gem there, to be honest.

That was Erling Haaland's verdict after the match. The Norwegian revealed he had already told chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak how impressive Bouaddi had been in training before the trip to Portugal.

Spanish outlet AS highlighted Bouaddi as one of the major pieces in City's rebuilt midfield following his display at Porto, describing him as a new jewel at Maresca's disposal.

For a teenager making his full debut in such demanding circumstances, the numbers and the noise around him suggest City's investment may prove shrewd.

Manchester City travel to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on the back of four consecutive wins, with their most recent outing — a commanding victory over FC Porto — standing as their finest performance of the season so far. Enzo Maresca's side head across town in formidable form.

Anderson arrives at the home of the club he rejected. The England international chose City over United in the summer, with City winning the race for his signature from Nottingham Forest. United legend Ryan Giggs even went public with his attempt to steer Anderson towards Old Trafford. It didn't work. Anderson had his heart set on the Etihad.

He made no secret of his enthusiasm for the fixture. "It's one of the biggest derbies in the world and for as long as I've known Manchester, City have been the kings of Manchester," he said. "It'll be a great fixture, and I can't wait to be involved in something like that."

That is the sort of line that tends to circulate in the away end. It will circulate rather less warmly in the home sections. Anderson has never played in a Manchester derby, so Sunday will be a first. The reception waiting for him is unlikely to be a gentle introduction.

Cherki has been here before. His first derby at Old Trafford ended in a 2-0 defeat for City last season. The Frenchman has since become a key figure under Maresca and could be the match-defining player this time around. He also arrives with a certain reputation among the United support, having stated his intention to 'kill' City's arch-rivals after signing from Lyon last summer. That quote has not been forgotten.

Both players will be expected to handle whatever comes their way. City's form suggests they can. Four wins on the spin, a statement performance in Europe, and a squad with enough quality to silence a hostile crowd. Old Trafford has not been a happy hunting ground of late, but this City side looks built for exactly this kind of occasion.

Kick-off is on Sunday. The reception will be loud. Whether it rattles City's summer arrivals remains to be seen.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is in his second season at Manchester City, and the Italy captain is embracing the challenge under new head coach Enzo Maresca. The 27-year-old, approaching 500 senior appearances, has already amassed 14 major club honours plus a European Championship. Yet it is the fresh start at the Etihad that has him talking.

Speaking to the club's official website, Donnarumma touched on a range of subjects, from his new manager to his life away from football. Maresca, who brought a winning pedigree from his time at Chelsea, made an immediate impression. "He beat me 3-0 at the Club World Cup when he was Chelsea manager and I was the PSG goalkeeper," Donnarumma recalled with a wry smile.

He beat me 3-0 at the Club World Cup when he was Chelsea manager and I was the PSG goalkeeper.

That memory aside, the goalkeeper is clearly enjoying working under Maresca, who has already tasted success at City. The new head coach's arrival marks a new chapter for the Blues, and Donnarumma is determined to be part of it.

Life in Manchester has been kind to the Donnarumma family. He married his partner Alessia in the picturesque Italian town of Locorotondo, with a guest list that included Roberto Mancini, Kylian Mbappe, and City team-mate Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker even took a turn banging the drum on a Viking Row after the vows. Having previously called Milan and Paris home, Donnarumma, Alessia, and baby son Leo have settled seamlessly into their new surroundings.

On the pitch, City's campaign began with a commanding 0-2 win away at FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Donnarumma's first season in England ended with City falling short of Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but the new term offers a chance to go one better.

Next up is a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon for the first Manchester derby of the season. For Donnarumma, it is another opportunity to show why he remains one of the most decorated goalkeepers in the game.

Manchester City will head into the derby this weekend off the back of a confidence-boosting win in Porto in midweek. Enzo Maresca's side return to Premier League action with the short trip to Old Trafford, where they will face a United team that may have won their first league game at home but have looked decidedly frail at the back.

That defensive fragility is unlikely to have escaped the notice of Erling Haaland, who will be keen to exploit it. The Norwegian striker has made a habit of punishing hesitant defending, and United's backline has offered plenty of encouragement to opposing forwards this season.

Maresca demands complete performance

Maresca was happy with some aspects of the game on Tuesday, but he will be hoping for a complete performance at Old Trafford. The City boss has seen his side produce patches of brilliance without sustaining them for a full ninety minutes, and a derby away day is not the place for half-measures.

Porto offered a useful workout, but the intensity and hostility of a Manchester derby will be a different proposition entirely. United, for all their defensive issues, carry a threat going forward, and City will need to be sharper at both ends of the pitch.

Victory would not only extend City's momentum but also deepen the sense of uncertainty around United's early-season form. For Maresca, the priority will be turning a promising midweek result into a statement performance on enemy territory.

This article was written by David Tully, a football reporter with fifteen years of experience. He started as an intern at Snack Media before becoming a freelancer, working on various different sites, and took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network at the start of 2023.

Phil Foden hasn't scored for Manchester City in 34 matches, yet his performance in Tuesday night's 2-0 win at FC Porto hinted that his luck might be about to change.

Foden was at the heart of City's opening goal, threading a sublime pass that carved open Francesco Farioli's defence. It was the kind of contribution that has been missing too often during a frustrating run in front of goal.

He also set up a great chance for Erling Haaland with a quality cross from the left in the first half, only for Diogo Costa to keep out the Norwegian's header. Later, Foden saw his own shot from the right saved by Costa — a strike he might have hit better.

Before being withdrawn in the 75th minute, Foden had been lively. His last goal came in City's 3-2 win over Leeds United on December 14, 2025, when he bagged a brace. Since then, the net has remained stubbornly out of reach.

There have been near misses. In City's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace, Foden registered two assists but also missed two great chances. Last weekend against Coventry City, he squandered another great opportunity.

Still, the assist for the opening goal in Porto — and the overall quality of his display — offers hope that the 34-game wait is nearing its end. If Foden keeps creating at this rate, the goals will surely follow.

It's worth remembering that Haaland signed a contract until 2034 only last year. He is 26. He has five goals in five appearances this season, including both in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory at Porto. And Enzo Maresca described him earlier this week as a more 'complete' player and person.

So why the noise? Perhaps because City have just had to put succession planning into practice following Rodri's departure. Several huge figures from the Pep Guardiola era left in the summer, and Maresca has been vocal about the need to look forward.

"When they leave, you need to be good and recruit the next one," he said, recalling how Kevin De Bruyne followed David Silva, Haaland succeeded Sergio Aguero, and Rodri took over from Fernandinho. Aguero was once considered irreplaceable. So was Silva. So was Fernandinho.

Maresca made the same point last month when discussing Rodri's move to Barcelona. The pattern is clear: City don't panic, they plan. And right now, the plan revolves around Haaland.

For now, the only thing Haaland is leaving behind is defenders. Five goals in five games says as much. The rumour mill will keep turning, but City's striker is under contract until 2034 and scoring for fun. That's the reality.

Enzo Maresca has made a habit of winning since taking over from Pep Guardiola, and he's brought his own soundtrack with him.

Four matches, four wins. The Italian's tenure at the Etihad couldn't have started much better, with City having swept aside Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City before Erling Haaland's brace secured a 2-0 win at FC Porto on matchweek one of the Champions League's league phase.

It's a start that has left only Arsenal for company at the top of the early Premier League table, with the two sides the only teams to have won all of their opening fixtures. Newly-promoted Hull City, meanwhile, are the sole top-flight side yet to concede a goal. Make of that what you will.

The changes at City haven't been limited to results. The squad has undergone significant surgery in every department, midfield especially, and Maresca's fingerprints are already visible on the training pitch. A possession-first philosophy remains, as you'd expect, but there's been a clear shift towards set-piece work, a higher defensive line, wider wingers, and a support structure designed to help Gianluigi Donnarumma when building from the back.

Then there's the music.

UEFA granted broadcast media access to the opening 15 minutes of City's Champions League session this week, and what they saw—and heard—prompted questions. Maresca was quizzed on the decision to pump music through the City Football Academy during first-team training.

"It's something I had in Leicester, in Chelsea, and I introduced here," he said. "I think the players with music are more happy and can work better, it's just for that."

And who picks the playlist? Not the manager, as it turns out.

"Ah, no! The players decide."

Maresca, for his part, has his own preferences. "I like house music! Boom, boom, boom!" he added, which is either a glimpse into the soul of a modern football coach or a man who has spent too long in nightclubs. Probably both.

Matheus Nunes, seated alongside Maresca during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Porto clash, was more diplomatic. "I like it. Why not? All of them [types of music]. They want to be DJs," he said, which suggests the dressing room has embraced the new regime with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

The music is a small detail, but it's part of a wider picture of a manager stamping his authority on a squad in transition. Significant changes have been made across the first-team, and the early results suggest the players are buying in—whether they're fans of house music or not.

Next up is a trip to Old Trafford to face Michael Carrick's Manchester United in the first derby of the Maresca era. A win there would keep City level with Arsenal at the top and further cement the sense that the post-Guardiola transition is going rather smoothly.

For now, the mood at the City Football Academy is upbeat, the music is loud, and the wins are coming. Maresca wouldn't have it any other way.

Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi have been named in Manchester City's captaincy group for the 2026-27 season. That's not just a nod to their seniority. It's an acknowledgement of what they bring to a side that, at times, has looked vulnerable at the back.

Both have been crucial to Enzo Maresca's setup, not only for the leadership they provide but for the roles they play in City's defence. Against FC Porto on Tuesday night, those roles were on full display.

City won 2-0 at the Estádio do Dragão. Erling Haaland scored in the 47th minute, and while the Portuguese champions did manage to play through City's midfield on occasion after that goal, they never created a single shot on target. Not in the period between Haaland's opener and his second, and not for the entire match. Francesco Farioli's side were caught offside seven times. The linesman's flag also spared Gianluigi Donnarumma from conceding a penalty immediately after Haaland's first goal.

That's not to say City were flawless. They did leave openings for Porto to exploit. But the centre-back pairing of Dias and Guehi held firm, and their performances were integral to the clean sheet.

Guehi has been brilliant since the season began. He's been absolutely brilliant in all four games City have played, looking like a player who is now comfortable as a City player. Dias, meanwhile, has taken two games to get going, but his past two performances have been exceptionally strong. As City's captain, he's building into the campaign nicely.

Combined, they've been exceptional. Their partnership has been an underestimated strength of Maresca's side. As of right now, they are City's first-choice centre-back pairing, and their games complement each other. They've both earned that right with their performances.

Injuries, suspension and squad rotation will see Maresca's side take on different looks throughout the season. For now, though, Dias and Guehi look set in the starting lineup.

Heading into Sunday's derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the pair will be crucial to City's chances. The hope is that the way they led the defence against Porto is a sign of what's in store. If it is, Dias and Guehi will provide City a solid foundation from which to work against their arch-rivals.

For 45 minutes, it looked like being another of those nights. Diogo Costa saved well from Haaland twice when he should have scored, and the frustration was visible. City had dominated but had nothing to show for it.

Two minutes after the break, that changed. A clever header from Haaland gave Enzo Maresca's side the lead. It was the 47th minute, and the relief was tangible.

Porto fought back, as decent sides do. They pushed, they probed, and for a while it looked like they might find something. City had to wait until the 91st minute for the decisive blow. Mateo Kovacic and Rayan Ait-Nouri combined to set up Haaland, who finished precisely with his right foot to secure all three points.

The win was City's first in this season's league phase, and it was built on the sort of patience that has become a hallmark. Haaland's first-half misses could have been costly, but his response after the break was emphatic. It was also a reminder that he is more than just a poacher. The header was clever, the finish for the second was precise.

Haaland's brace took him to 167 goals in 203 appearances for City. Only Eric Brook (177) and Sergio Aguero (260) have scored more. He joined the club in the summer of 2022 and has been instrumental to their success ever since.

After the match, Enzo Fernandez was full of praise for his teammate. "Haaland is an animal, a beast," he said. "Every time I'm on the pitch I will look for him. Hopefully I can give him more assists. Haaland is not just a great player but an amazing human being as well and he welcomed me here and has helped me."

That sort of endorsement speaks volumes about Haaland's influence beyond the goals. He is a leader, a focal point, and a player his teammates clearly trust.

Next up is Sunday's Manchester derby. Haaland will enter it in form, with five goals already this season. For City's opponents, that is a worrying thought.

A Composed Start in Portugal

City controlled the opening 45 minutes at the Estádio do Dragão, with Fernandez tidy in possession as the visitors dictated the tempo. Porto keeper Diogo Costa kept the scoreline respectable before the break, producing an inspired display that stopped Maresca's side from putting the game to bed early.

What the half also produced was a flashpoint. Just before the interval, Marc Guehi caught Porto midfielder Gabri Veiga in the head while challenging for a header. The incident sparked the game into life and led to a fracas between the two teams as they headed into the tunnel. Fernandez was seen voicing his concerns in the aftermath.

The Move That Broke Porto

Two minutes after the restart, City found the breakthrough. Rayan Cherki kept the ball in with some clever footwork before finding Fernandez, whose cross was met by Erling Haaland's header in the 47th minute. It capped a tremendous City move and set the tone for the second half.

Fernandez nearly added a goal of his own late on, only for Costa to deny him what would have been his first for the club.

Settling In Fast

The 2-0 result follows an impressive showing against Coventry City, and Fernandez has now made two starts since arriving from Chelsea on deadline day. For a player thrown straight into the deep end, the early signs are encouraging.

"I'm so happy, they welcomed me from the first minute when I walked into the door. Not just brilliant players but they're amazing human beings and they've all been so kind to me."

He added: "The fans have been absolutely brilliant and it is a new step in my career. I'm so excited to get going."

Repaying the Faith

Fernandez knows exactly who pushed for the move. He acknowledged how determined Maresca was to bring him to Manchester City, and he is clear about what he owes the manager.

"I'm so happy that Maresca did all he could to make this move possible. I know him so well from Chelsea. I'm so grateful. I will give 100% in every training session and in every match to repay him."

Two games in, that promise looks more than just talk.

Iliman Ndiaye turned down Tottenham to join Manchester City on deadline day, completing a £65 million move from Everton. The forward was thrown straight into the starting XI for Saturday's 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry City.

Spurs had agreed a deal with Everton for the 26-year-old in the final week of the window, but failed to push it through after being unable to offload Richarlison. City, who had reportedly just learned they would not be able to sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, swooped.

"When Manchester City come through, you don't say no!"

Ndiaye's arrival addresses a thinning forward department at the Etihad. Enzo Maresca's side had seen Savinho and Omar Marmoush depart, leaving a gap that the Senegal international and Brazilian winger Allan Elias now fill.

The 26-year-old scored 17 goals across two seasons at Everton, having climbed through Sheffield United and Marseille before his move to Goodison Park in 2024. His career began in non-league with Boreham Wood, and he had a loan spell at Hyde United — just seven miles from the Etihad — seven years ago.

Against Coventry, Ndiaye attempted eight dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch. A lively start, then, though the finishing touch will be the measure.

Spurs, left to rue a move that slipped away, will wonder what might have been. City, for their part, have a new forward who already looks at home.

The Sky Sports commentator sees Enzo Maresca's side finishing second, above Chelsea, but behind Arsenal. It is the sort of prediction that will satisfy neither the Etihad nor Stamford Bridge, though it at least spares City the indignity of being talked down by a former Arsenal striker.

"I still see City as a better all-round outfit. I still think City will finish ahead of Chelsea. So I think Chelsea will get a Champions League spot, but maybe not finish in a runners-up position."

Smith's reasoning is straightforward enough: City are, in his view, the more complete team. That Chelsea are expected to be in the Champions League places but not second is a small victory for the Blues over their London rivals, if nothing else.

Opta's numbers tell a similar story

The prediction aligns with Opta's projected final table, which has Arsenal top on 77.92 expected points. City sit second on 72.29, with Liverpool third (61.49) and Chelsea fourth (59.62). Manchester United, for those keeping score, are tipped for fifth on 56.60.

Those figures suggest a comfortable gap between City and the chasing pack, even if the title itself is expected to head to north London again. Smith, like most pundits, is backing Arsenal to retain their crown. The Gunners and City are the only sides yet to drop points this campaign, which makes the early-season table look like a two-horse race.

Maresca has not had an overly difficult beginning to life at the Etihad in terms of his opponents in the Premier League. Bournemouth at home, Crystal Palace away and Coventry at home is not a particularly tough run. The fixtures have been kind. The derby this weekend will not be.

United have had a pretty poor start, losing to Hull, beating Ipswich and drawing against Everton. Meetings between the two rivals don't always go by the formbook, but Maresca will be keen to ingratiate himself to the City faithful by getting a big win at Old Trafford — a venue where his predecessor, Pep Guardiola, won on no less than five occasions during his tenure.

Smith's verdict, then, is a cautious endorsement of City's quality without much faith in their title credentials. For a club that has grown accustomed to finishing first, second place is a strange sort of compliment. But it beats being told you will finish below Chelsea.

Three league wins, a first Champions League victory under Enzo Maresca, and now the small matter of a trip to Old Trafford. City's start to the season has been tidy enough, but the real measuring stick arrives this weekend.

The 2-0 win in Porto was exactly the kind of result that builds belief. Maresca's side had already collected nine points from nine in the Premier League, and the performance in Portugal suggested the early-season promise is translating onto the European stage.

“We are improving game after game,” the City boss said afterwards. It is hard to argue.

Bouaddi's calm debut and a captain's flashpoint

The most intriguing selection of the night was Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old was handed his first start for the club and, by all accounts, handled the occasion with remarkable composure. Maresca was clearly taken with what he saw.

“You expect Erling, Ruben, Mateo that they can manage these games, but he was top,” he said.

Not everything was so serene. Rúben Dias found himself at the centre of a half-time confrontation between the two camps, with footage appearing to show the City captain placing a hand on Porto boss Francesco Farioli. UEFA may yet take a look, though there has been no confirmation of any charge. The club will hope that is the end of it.

Haaland's numbers keep climbing

Erling Haaland, as ever, provided the headline act. His two goals took him to 167 for City, third on the club's all-time list, and his Champions League tally now reads a frankly absurd 59 goals in 59 appearances.

The evening ended with a stoppage-time scuffle with Pablo Rosario, both men booked. Haaland's explanation? The Porto midfielder had been “grabbing my bottom” while trying to stop him completing a hat-trick. Football, eh.

Old Trafford test awaits

Maresca has already conceded that the derby will “probably” be his biggest test since taking the job. City's last visit ended in a 2-0 defeat, a reminder that form counts for little in these games.

United arrive with four points, having lost to Hull, beaten Ipswich and drawn at Everton. City, by contrast, are perfect in the league. The form book points one way, but derbies have a habit of ignoring it.

Some of the great moments in this fixture were revisited this week: the 5-1 at Maine Road, Yaya Touré at Wembley, the 6-1, Vincent Kompany's header and that glorious Haaland-Foden 6-3. A fresh chapter could be written on Sunday.

Two goals from Erling Haaland gave Manchester City a 2-0 win over Porto in Portugal, a result that will do no harm to morale as the club adjusts to life after Pep Guardiola. It was City's opening Champions League fixture under Enzo Maresca, and the new manager will have liked much of what he saw.

Haaland opened his account early in the second half before sealing his brace in the 91st minute. The Norwegian's double was enough to see off Porto on their own patch, and the clean sheet will be just as welcome.

"That victory gave more confidence to Man City as they start their new life after Pep Guardiola."

How the night unfolded elsewhere

Across the continent, Real Madrid also began their European campaign with a win, edging Inter Milan 2-1 at home. Jose Mourinho's side were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 La Liga loss to Real Betis, and they made a fast start. Kylian Mbappe put them ahead on 14 minutes, and Federico Valverde doubled the lead in the 23rd minute after a blunder from Josef Martinez in the Inter goal.

It was far from comfortable for the hosts, with the Nerazzurri pushing hard throughout. Carlos Augusto pulled one back on 77 minutes, but Mourinho's men held on to their slender lead until the final whistle.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Aston Villa won 3-2 at Club Brugge, Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2, and Betis followed up their league win over Madrid with a 3-2 success at LOSC. AEK beat LASK 1-0.

For City, the task now is to build on this. A winning start in Europe, a clean sheet, and Haaland already off the mark — not a bad way to begin a new chapter.

Enzo Fernandez has wasted no time in outlining his priorities at Manchester City. The Argentine midfielder, a Deadline Day arrival from Chelsea in a £125m deal, has declared his intention to feed Erling Haaland for as long as the Norwegian is leading the line.

Speaking after City's 2-0 Champions League win over Porto, Fernandez was typically effusive about his new teammate. "Erling Haaland is an animal. He is a beast, so every time he is on the pitch, I'm going to look for him, and hopefully give him many more assists," he said.

Fernandez had already laid on the opener for Haaland in Portugal, a moment that came after a spell of sustained City pressure. The Blues dominated until that breakthrough, after which things got a little ragged. Maresca was generally happy with the performance level, even if the polish faded after the first goal.

"It is not just about the player he is; he is also an amazing human being, and he has really welcomed me in and helped me."

That warmth, Fernandez says, extends beyond Haaland. He has been struck by how the whole squad has taken him in, and he was quick to thank head coach Enzo Maresca for pushing the move through. There was no sense of a player merely going through the motions in his first weeks at the Etihad.

The immediate dividend arrives this weekend. City head to Old Trafford for a derby against United, who are in Europa Conference League action against Sabah FK on Thursday night. That fixture leaves Maresca's men with a couple of extra days of recovery ahead of the meeting, a small but potentially significant edge in a game that will test the squad's freshness as much as its quality.

Four wins from four, a clean sheet in Europe, and a striker in the kind of form that makes opposition defenders check their travel plans. Life under Enzo Maresca has started about as well as anyone could have hoped.

Sunday changes the conversation. The short trip across town to Old Trafford brings the first Manchester derby of the season, and the first of Maresca's managerial career. He has already admitted it will probably be his biggest test since taking charge.

That is not false modesty. United may be scrapping for results, but derbies have a habit of ignoring the form book.

Contrasting starts

City's start has been faultless. Three league wins against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry were followed by Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory in Porto, where Erling Haaland scored both goals. Afterwards Maresca spoke of seeing his team improve game by game.

United's campaign has been rather more uneven. Michael Carrick's side began with a 2-0 defeat at Hull, responded with a 5-2 home win over Ipswich, then surrendered the lead twice in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Everton. Four points from three matches tells its own story.

The last meeting at Old Trafford, back in January, offers a warning. Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scored in a 2-0 United victory that ended City's 13-match unbeaten run. Memories of that afternoon will not have faded.

Derby day details

Kick-off is 4.30pm on Sunday. Maresca will experience the derby from the dugout for the first time, and he does so with a squad that looks settled and a striker who currently cannot stop scoring.

The test is real. So is the opportunity.

There are nights when Erling Haaland barely needs an invitation, and this was one of them. The Norwegian's brace carried City to a 2-0 win over Porto at the Estadio do Dragao, a result that felt more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

For long spells this was a contest waiting for someone to grab it. City had the better of the first half without ever really opening the Portuguese champions up. Then, two minutes after the restart, the game took its decisive turn.

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Finding Enzo Fernandez who crossed in for Haaland to head home.

That 47th-minute header changed the complexion of the evening entirely. Porto, who had been organised and compact, suddenly had to chase the game, and that suited City just fine.

The substitute's moment

The second goal arrived in injury time, and it belonged in large part to Rayan Ait Nouri. Introduced from the bench, the defender did the hard work on the left before finding Haaland free in the box. The finish was typical — calm, precise, rolled into the corner. Game over.

If Haaland will grab the headlines, the performance of Ayyoub Bouaddi deserves its own paragraph. The youngster made his first start for the Blues and looked utterly at home on the European stage. Composed in possession, diligent without it — the sort of display that makes you check his age twice.

What comes next

City will not have long to savour this one. United arrive at the Etihad on Saturday, followed by an EFL Cup meeting with Norwich City. The month then closes with a Premier League home game against Sunderland.

Three competitions, three different challenges. On this evidence, Haaland looks ready for all of them.

Manchester City opened their 2026-27 Champions League account with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half to settle a contest that required patience and no small amount of character from Enzo Maresca's side.

The Norwegian's brace, arriving in the 47th and 90th minutes, ensured the Blues left Portugal with all three points on a night when the hosts made life difficult.

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Defensive resilience the foundation

While Haaland grabbed the headlines, the defensive unit deserves its share of credit. Marc Guehi was the standout, earning a 9/10 rating and, in the writer's view, sharing man-of-the-match honours with the striker. Ruben Dias was equally commanding alongside him, with an 8.5/10 display described as brilliant.

At right-back, Matheus Nunes turned in a solid shift (7.5/10), while Josko Gvardiol had a mixed evening on the left. The Croatian was good in possession but found himself locked in a battle with Porto's industrious winger William Gomes, finishing with a 6.5/10 rating.

There were nerves at the back, though. Gianluigi Donnarumma's outing was a nervous one, the goalkeeper rated just 5/10.

Midfield control and a debut to remember

In midfield, Ayyoub Bouaddi impressed on his first start for the club, the Moroccan earning 7.5/10. Enzo Fernandez also grew into the game as it wore on, matching that rating. Rayan Cherki showed flashes of quality, his close control helping to set up the opening goal, though he was limited to 6.5/10 overall.

Phil Foden was effective on the right, with a 7.5/10 rating for an impressive performance, while Antoine Semenyo caught the eye on the left wing, finishing with 8/10.

Substitutes make their mark

Maresca's changes added energy when needed. Mateo Kovacic came on and added exactly what was required in midfield, earning 7/10. Rayan Ait-Nouri was very good on the left flank after his introduction, grabbing an assist and a 7/10 rating. Elliot Anderson was busy after coming on (6.5/10), and Iliman Ndiaye was lively off the bench, also rated 6.5/10. Abdukodir Khusanov slotted in at left-back and did what was needed, finishing with 6/10.

The result gives City a winning start in Europe, and while there is room for improvement, especially in goal, the character shown to leave the Dragão with a clean sheet and two goals will please the manager.

Four games in, four wins, and a manager who is quietly refusing to get carried away. Enzo Maresca has made the kind of start at Manchester City that most coaches would dream of, yet his focus is already fixed on what comes next.

The latest victory came in the Champions League, a competition City know all about, as they left the Estádio do Dragão with a 2-0 win over Porto. Erling Haaland scored twice, Porto failed to register a shot on target, and Maresca's first European game in charge ended with the Blues having followed three Premier League wins with a fourth success in all competitions.

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But it was not the sequence of results that appeared to please him most. It was the manner of the performance.

"It was the complete performance on the ball and off the ball for 95 minutes," said Maresca.

There is a caveat tucked in there, though. City were actually frustrated during the opening 45 minutes, with Porto's goalkeeper proving a stubborn obstacle. The breakthrough only came later, and the manager acknowledged as much.

"We created enough chances to win the game in the first half and their goalkeeper was very good," he admitted. "We tried to continue in the second half in the same way."

Eventually, Haaland found the net, and the result was never really in doubt after that. Porto, for all their early resistance, could not muster a single effort on target over the 95 minutes.

Maresca, ever the pragmatist, is not about to start making grand claims about where this team stands. When asked about the bigger picture, he was measured.

"In terms of where we are, I don't know," he said. "I can see game after game, the team is improving."

That improvement will face its sternest examination yet on Sunday, when City travel to Old Trafford for Maresca's first Manchester derby. The buildup has already begun in his mind, though he is keeping his feet on the ground.

"Now it's a matter of recovery, and then we prepare for Sunday's game," he said. "I'm very excited for that – but first recovery."

Four wins from four is about as much as anyone could have asked for from a new manager still finding his feet. The real measure, perhaps, comes across town on Sunday. For now, the perfect start stands, with the caveat that the fixtures are about to get considerably tougher.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's first meaningful outing in a City shirt offered a glimpse of exactly what Enzo Maresca saw in him long before the £86m move from Lille was completed last month.

The 18-year-old played 75 minutes of Tuesday night's 2-0 Champions League win at Porto, slotting in alongside Enzo Fernández in midfield with an assuredness that belied his age. It was, by some distance, the most sustained look anyone has had at him since he arrived in Manchester.

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Maresca, for his part, was not remotely surprised.

The moment that told Maresca everything

Speaking after the game, the City boss recalled a moment from Bouaddi's substitute appearance against Coventry that appears to have stuck with him. Twice in that game, Bouaddi gave the ball away. Twice, rather than shrinking, he found himself back in City's box, calm.

"Against Coventry he lost two balls and after he lost them, he was in our box, calm," Maresca said. "Any player would panic but this shows how good he is. He's just 18. You expect Erling, Ruben, Mateo that they can manage these games, but he was top."

That composure — receiving the ball under pressure and making sound decisions in tight spaces — was already a hallmark of Bouaddi's game at Lille. Porto merely offered the first proper demonstration of it in City colours.

Why City "made the effort"

For Maresca, the teenager's talent was never really in question. Europe had been aware of Bouaddi's reputation as one of its most exciting young midfielders for some time. What convinced City to invest so heavily was something less visible on a highlight reel.

"He's very good," said the City boss. "But it's his maturity and personality that made us make the effort to bring him here."

At 18, Bouaddi is being asked to adapt to a new league, a new country and a new style of play, all while carrying a fee that invites scrutiny. On the evidence of Porto, he appears equipped to handle it.

Asked to sum up Guardiola in a single word, Nunes did not exactly stick to the brief. Obsessive, the greatest, a genius — take your pick. But pushed to settle on one, he went with the one that carries the most weight.

“All of them. If I had to choose one in particular, the greatest.”

That chapter, he accepts, is closed. The trick now is not to dwell on it.

“Well, the chapter has now come to an end, so we try not to think about it or pay attention to it.”

There is plenty else to occupy the mind. A summer of movement has left the squad with fresh faces to integrate, and Nunes is clear about where the responsibility lies.

“A lot of things have been going on at the club, we’ve had new players come in, and there’s a lot more we need to think about at the moment.”

That means helping the arrivals settle, building chemistry and passing on the identity of the club. The senior figures and long-serving staff carry that burden now, he says, and the sooner it is done, the better.

On the evidence of his voice, the mood is not one of mourning. There is, he insists, a different kind of buzz around the place.

“Yes, definitely. There is new energy everywhere. It feels like a young energy, but it’s a very good feeling to have.”

The man driving that feeling is Enzo Maresca, a figure who knows these corridors well. He was here before, won everything with the club, and arrived with the standards already embedded. Nunes sees a manager whose model is built to win.

“Made to win. I think he has that mentality. He wants us to control the game, score goals and not concede.”

In a tactical sense, the comparison with Guardiola is not as wide as some might expect. Control the game, concede as little as possible — it is the same instruction, the same DNA that has run through the club since before Pep's arrival. What Guardiola did, Nunes suggests, was stamp that image over a longer period.

Maresca's strengths, in Nunes' view, are not limited to the tactical board.

“Tactical, man management, motivation, a bit of everything.”

He has everything a manager should have, Nunes adds, and though he is still at the beginning of his career, he is ready for everything. The club, he believes, made the best choice available.

“That is why the club has chosen him to be the manager and represent the city and club. I think they’ve made the best choice they could have made.”

There is a caveat, of course. This is a process, and processes do not change overnight. Nunes acknowledges they are still learning under the new regime.

“We are still learning, of course. It’s a process and it doesn’t change overnight.”

Tonight, the learning continues on the European stage, with Maresca taking charge of the club in the Champions League for the first time. Nunes was speaking to Gabriel Clarke ahead of Prime Video's coverage of Porto vs. Manchester City.

When the Ballon d'Or nominations landed this week, the message was unmistakable: Manchester City's women are no longer knocking on the door. They've kicked it off its hinges.

Five City players feature on the 2026 women's shortlist, a statement of intent from a squad that swept the domestic honours last term. Bunny Shaw leads the charge, collecting her third nomination on the back of a season that bordered on the absurd.

The Jamaican striker claimed the WSL Golden Boot with 21 goals in 22 games, a return that underpinned her clean sweep of individual awards — PFA Players' Player of the Year, WSL Player of the Season, and FWA Player of the Year. Some players collect trophies; Shaw appears to be collecting entire mantelpieces.

She's joined on the list by Vivianne Miedema, Yui Hasegawa, captain Alex Greenwood, and Kerstin Casparij — a spread across the pitch that reflects a side greater than the sum of its considerable parts. The recognition doesn't stop with the players.

Club, Coach, and Keeper Recognition

City have also been shortlisted for Club of the Year, rubbing shoulders with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lyon, and Club America. Andrée Jeglertz, who guided the side to a domestic double last season, is in the running for Coach of the Year, while Ayaka Yamashita earns a nod in the Goalkeeper of the Year category.

There's a fresh face in the youth ranks too, with new signing Ayyoub Bouaddi nominated for Young Talent of the Year.

Men's Side Well Represented

The men's awards carry a familiar blue tinge. Erling Haaland is nominated, as is Rodri — though the latter's nomination arrives with the bittersweet footnote that he's since traded Manchester for Barcelona. Still, the nominations serve as a reminder of the quality that passed through the Etihad.

The ceremony takes place on 26th October. Given the sheer volume of City representation, there's a fair chance the blue half of Manchester will have a long night in Paris.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's first month at Manchester City has already produced a notable individual honour. The 18-year-old, who only arrived from Lille towards the end of August, has been shortlisted for the Men's Young Talent of the Year award.

The prize is part of the annual Ballon d'Or honours, traditionally associated with the Kopa Trophy. Bouaddi is one of ten players in contention, a list that also includes Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, as well as Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery.

This is not a flash-in-the-pan nod. Bouaddi finished ninth in last year's voting, making it a second successive nomination. The recognition is rather more than a consequence of his recent move to England.

Already in Maresca's plans

Since joining the Blues, the midfielder has featured from the bench against Crystal Palace and Coventry. He is also part of Enzo Maresca's travelling squad for tonight's Champions League opener against Porto.

The winner of the award will be announced at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on 26 October.

And yet the conversation around City's No.9 is no longer about what he scores. It is about when he stops.

Enzo Maresca has already conceded the obvious: Haaland cannot play every minute this season. The admission came before the trip to Porto, where the Champions League presents a rather less forgiving stage than the Premier League's early-season offerings. The Estádio do Dragão is not the sort of place you experiment with resting your best player.

“Depends on the game and gameplan,” Maresca said when asked when those rests might come. Which is manager-speak for: we will figure it out as we go.

“Depends on the game and gameplan.”

There is logic in the caution. Haaland has played every minute of City's opening three league games. A long season waits, and Maresca spoke after the Coventry win about protecting a player who will be central to everything City hope to achieve. There will be games, he said, when Haaland needs to recover.

Porto, though, are not obliging hosts. They arrive having won all five of their opening league matches, and Maresca spoke on Monday night about the difficulty of the game. This is the sort of fixture where the manager's protective instincts collide with the reality of the opposition.

There is also the small matter of who steps in. Maresca confirmed last week that Antoine Semenyo can operate through the middle following Omar Marmoush's departure, offering a glimpse of the contingency plan. Whether that plan gets an airing in Portugal on Tuesday night is another matter entirely.

City's official preview frames Porto as a side in formidable form. The maths is simple enough: five wins from five, a noisy stadium, and a manager weighing up whether his star striker can be spared. The guess here is that Haaland starts. The question is how many more times Maresca can ask the same of him before the answer changes.

Jack Grealish has admitted he does not know whether he will ever pull on a Manchester City shirt again, after his Deadline Day loan move to Everton was finally confirmed.

The 30-year-old winger had to wait until the final hours of the transfer window to seal his switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Aston Villa and Sunderland both keen on his services. David Moyes' side eventually won the race, but Grealish's future beyond this season remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Grealish was candid about what lies ahead. "I don't know, honestly. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I just want to be enjoying myself, and that's the main thing at the moment," he said.

It is a telling admission from a player who, only weeks ago, appeared to be part of Enzo Maresca's plans. Grealish featured against Arsenal in the Community Shield and against Bournemouth, but his omission from the squad to face Crystal Palace made it clear that an announcement was imminent.

Now, barring a change of heart from Maresca, Grealish's City contract will have expired by the time he returns from his loan. The club is in the midst of a transition, with Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri already having passed on the torch, while the futures of Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Dias are also uncertain.

Lewis, in particular, has been linked with a departure. Nottingham Forest have long admired the right-back, and given his limited minutes over the last few months, an exit would not come as a surprise. Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that Lewis would not be sold before the window closed, but his long-term future is still very much up in the air.

For Grealish, the immediate priority is simple. He has played just 24 minutes for Everton so far, coming on as a substitute during the thrilling 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, 6 September. At 30, with his City contract winding down, he knows his next chapter is being written now.

City's Champions League campaign gets underway at Porto tonight with two familiar faces missing from the travelling party. Nico O'Reilly and Jérémy Doku have both stayed behind, the pair left out of the 22-man squad as the Blues look to make a winning start in Europe.

The absences are not quite what they seem, though. Enzo Maresca used his pre-match press conference in Portugal on Monday night to offer some genuinely encouraging news on both players — and, in O'Reilly's case at least, the picture for Sunday looks reasonably clear.

O'Reilly close to derby return

O'Reilly's issue stems from Saturday's meeting with Coventry City. Named in the starting XI, the 21-year-old withdrew during the warm-up after feeling something in his back and has not travelled to Porto as a result.

Maresca was quick to play the problem down, describing it as "not serious". Asked whether O'Reilly might be available for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, the City boss replied: "Nico probably yes."

For a player who had been expected to feature prominently this season, that counts as a relief.

Doku closing in but Porto comes too soon

Doku's situation is a little more complicated. The Belgian has not featured since suffering a calf problem in the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal three weeks ago, a setback that has already cost him City's opening three Premier League games.

He has been left out of the squad for tonight's European tie, though Maresca confirmed the winger is making progress. Whether that progress extends to Sunday remains uncertain.

"Jeremy got injured in the Community Shield. That's three weeks ago."

A return against Manchester United is possible, but Maresca stopped short of committing. We should know more on Friday, when the City boss is due to speak to the media again at 1.30pm.

Double availability boost in midfield

There is better news elsewhere in the squad. Matheus Nunes has travelled to Portugal after recovering from his recent fitness problem and told reporters on Monday that he now feels "100% fit", having been named among the substitutes against Coventry.

There was also a brief scare involving debutant Ndiaye on Saturday, who required treatment before being replaced by Ryan McAidoo after 87 minutes. The youngster quickly moved to ease any concerns.

"No, no [nothing serious]. A little bit of cramp."

Ndiaye is in the squad for tonight's game, meaning Maresca has both him and Nunes available as City look to make a statement in Portugal.

When Erling Haaland walked through the doors at the Etihad in the summer of 2022, he arrived as a goal scorer. Four years on, his role has evolved into something more. The Norwegian is now a central figure in the dressing room, a leader whose influence extends well beyond the penalty box.

Haaland was part of the captaincy group last season and retains that status this term. His importance to the squad was underlined this week by Matheus Nunes, who spoke to the media ahead of City's opening Champions League league phase fixture against FC Porto.

“He is very important, he is the second captain,” Nunes said. “He is one of the players longest here, he has won everything for the club. His voice is always heard.”

Nunes, who confirmed he is available for tonight's match, was effusive in his praise. “He is a top guy,” the Portuguese midfielder added. “I am happy his leadership has been growing because he deserves it. Every leader needs the respect of their teammates. Erling Haaland has this.”

Three goals in three games, but minutes are mounting

On the pitch, Haaland has started the season in familiar fashion. Three goals in three games, following a sensational World Cup with Norway, suggest the striker is in fine fettle. Yet it is the workload that is beginning to draw attention.

Speaking after Haaland's first-half header secured a 1-0 win over Coventry City, Enzo Maresca acknowledged the need for caution. “At the moment, he's played every minute apart from the Community Shield,” the City boss said. “We need to protect Erling because the season is very long.”

Maresca was clear that there will be times when rest is non-negotiable. “He's going to have games where he needs to recover,” he said. The manager also pointed to options that would allow him to rotate: “Antoine can play nine. Phil has played fake nine.”

Haaland's contract, which runs until 2034, means City will not be worrying about his future any time soon. The challenge now is ensuring their most potent attacking threat remains fresh enough to lead the line when it matters most.