Manchester City scored two late goals to give Enzo Maresca his first Premier League win as manager, and deprive Marco Rose the perfect start as Bournemouth boss.
Marcus Tavernier gave the Cherries the lead in the first half after Evanilson’s brilliant low ball across the box left him in plenty of space to thump home.
Erling Haaland, who is normally at his most prolific in August, wasted a number of opportunities for City as they appeared to be in for a difficult afternoon.
However, Marc Guehi, who was playing defensive midfield for the third time in his career, nodded in Rayan Cherki’s corner with six minutes remaining.
Bournemouth’s woes worsened as Josko Gvardiol fired into the bottom corner in injury time.
The goal was first ruled for offside, but was reinstated following a video assistant referee review.
Bournemouth suffered their first defeat in any competition since January, ending a club-record 18-game unbeaten streak.
City improved from the squad that was thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal in last Sunday’s Community Shield, but for the majority of the game, it appeared like Maresca was going to start with consecutive losses.
Replacing a legend is often difficult, as David Moyes discovered when Sir Alex Ferguson left neighbors Manchester United in 2013, and the late comeback will come as a huge comfort in their first Premier League game without Pep Guardiola in ten years.
City did not precisely promote from within when recruiting Maresca, who left Chelsea at the beginning of 2026, but the Italian was Guardiola’s City assistant in 2022-23 and may be considered a continuity candidate.
It was a difficult start, with them falling behind 1-0 at home on the first day of a Premier League season for the first time since 1995-96, when they were relegated.
Maresca’s team selection perplexed many, with six players who have spent the most of their City games in defense beginning on Sunday, including Guehi in midfield.
Guehi appeared to have saved a point before defender Gvardiol added two more with another Cherki pass.
It would have been more comfortable if Haaland had packed his shooting boots.
The Norwegian scored 22 goals in 14 Premier League games in August, although he missed five chances.
