Match Report and Player Ratings: Wolves 0-4 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City started their 2025/26 Premier League season with a 0-4 victory against Wolves on an emotional evening at the Molineux Stadium.

A first-half which was preceded by a poignant tribute to late former Wolves forward Diogo Jota was dominated by Pep Guardiola’s men, with Erling Haaland opening the scoring and brilliant Premier League debutant Tijjani Reijnders struck his first competitive goal for the club.

It wasn’t perfect but there were a lot of positive signs at the beginning of this new dawn for Manchester City, and they added further goals in the second half through Haaland and substitute Rayan Cherki for an impressive scoreline and ideal start to the season.

City started the game fairly brightly without really managing to put pressure on Jose Sa’s goal, having to wait until the 20 minute mark for their first big opening; Bernardo Silva found space on the left and floated a cross to the back post, but it was just too high for Haaland, who connected but couldn’t keep his header down on the stretch.

Wolves looked very dangerous when turnovers occurred though, John Stones producing a key block to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen before Marshall Munetsi saw what he thought was the opening goal ruled out for offside.

It seemed a perilous period in the game for the Blues, but when you’re looking for a goal to alleviate pressure, you can usually rely on Haaland to oblige – a fantastic burst from Reijnders saw him release Rico Lewis in the right half-space, and one boyhood City fan found another as Haaland tapped in his first of the season.

And no sooner had City broken the deadlock than they doubled their advantage, Oscar Bobb seizing on a loose Wolves pass to lead a lightning-fast break and feeding Reijnders, who took on the shot early and picked out a brilliant weak-footed finish for a debut Premier League goal.

Wolves’ threat was renewed at the beginning of the second-half though, Strand Larsen narrowly shooting wide after Ki-Jana Hoever had picked him out in the middle.

But once again a spell of pressure for the hosts ended in nothing, and City struck immediately – Reijnders was again instrumental, exchanging passes with Bobb and cutting back for Haaland to lash home and complete an excellent team goal.

James Trafford wasn’t too busy on his competitive City debut, Strand Larsen forcing his biggest exertion of the match with a low drive which the Blues’ new no.1 palmed away easily enough.

Compounding the difference between the sides, City soon had a fourth; substitutes Nico O’Reilly and Cherki combined, with the latter moving into space just outside the area and cracking in an accurate low finish for a debut Premier League goal to match Reijnders’.

City had a few sightings at goal to stretch their lead further but it wasn’t necessary in the end after a performance which will offer much encouragement for the season ahead.

Here’s how we rated the players in Manchester City’s thumping Premier League opening win over Wolves!

Starting XI

James Trafford – 7.5

Famed as a dependable and solid goalkeeper, and showed those qualities with an accomplished display of handling, sweeping and shot-stopping. Promising too was his pick-out of Reijnders in the build-up to City’s third goal.

Rico Lewis – 8

When City teams are at their free-flowing best, Lewis is often capable of playing a major part of it, and that was certainly true today. He moved all over from his right-back role, knitting play and assisting the opener.

John Stones – 7.5

Just seeing Stones manage 82 minutes will have been a welcome sight for City fans, and he added to that with a composed and classy showing.

Ruben Dias – 7

A slightly shaky start with a poor giveaway when play out, but he sharpened up and marshalled the defence with some signature blocking.

Rayan Ait-Nouri – 7

Can’t have been easy for the former Wolves man to instantly come up against an opponent that knows his every strength and weakness, and he did look a little ropey on occasion in defence. He rode it out though and began to show some of his quality in possession.

Nico Gonzalez – 8

Pep Guardiola’s ‘mini Rodri’ might have some more chances to impress in his fellow countryman’s absence on this basis. Missed one or two second balls but was overall a really strong presence in the middle.

Tijjani Reijnders – 9 (POTM)

Get excited, City fans. A tremendous first outing in the Premier League for the Dutchman, involving himself in the Blues’ first three goals and showing all his class.

Bernardo Silva – 7.5

Perhaps suited him to play more of a support role to the more adventurous no.8 Reijnders, allowing the captain to facilitate play and show his usual exceptional work-rate.

Oscar Bobb – 7.5

Very prominent in the first-half, combining well with Lewis and providing the assist to Reijnders. Not quite as involved in the second but still contributed effectively.

Erling Haaland – 8.5

Did what he does. Finished with ease on his first goal and more flamboyantly on his second, before being afforded an early rest.

Jeremy Doku – 6.5

Couldn’t get much change out of Hoever, unusually declining too many attempts to take on his man and instead largely playing it safe on the ball.

Substitutes

Matheus Nunes – 6

Possibly put off a little by the abrasive reception afforded him by his old team’s supporters. Did his defending but not wholly convincingly.

Nico O’Reilly – 6.5

Got his foot on it in the middle well, playing a part in the fourth goal. Strange tackle got him in the book.

Omar Marmoush – 6

Seemed to be lacking a little sharpness in front of goal, despite being involved enough.

Rayan Cherki – 7

Was brimming with confidence and that’ll only increase after a fine goal to open his account in the Premier League.

Abdukodir Khusanov – N/A