Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-4 Manchester City: Reijnders stars in City’s dominance over Wolves | OneFootball

Manchester City thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in their opening Premier League match of the 2025/26 campaign.

Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki proved to be worth every penny for Pep Guardiola’s side, costing over £75m in the summer transfer window collectively, providing two goals and an assist against Wolves.

Erling Haaland grabbed himself a brace, the third time he has done so on the opening matchday, and the fourth time he has scored on such an occasion.

There was nothing Vítor Pereira could do to soften the blow Guardiola’s side dealt, despite introducing summer signing Jhon Arias in the second half.

As it happened

Molineux Stadium hosted Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City’s Premier League opener. Pep Guardiola’s side were destined for an improvement to their previous season’s misery.

Wolves’ summer signing Jhon Arias waited patiently for his Premier League debut, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Marshall Munetsi preferred over the Colombian winger. He was a standout player for Fluminense in the Club World Cup, and Wolves manager Vítor Pereira will hope he brings his flair to the Premier League.

Ederson was excluded from the Manchester City squad that travelled to Molineux, with summer signing James Trafford starting ahead of Stefan Ortega. The Brazilian keeper will likely join Galatasaray this summer, with City keen on replacing him with Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Rodri was also ruled out due to an injury setback suffered in the Club World Cup against Al Hilal. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was sidelined for the majority of the 2024/25 season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Molineux erupted into applause in the 18th minute, commemorating the jersey the late Diogo Jota wore during his spell at Wolves.

Shortly after, Erling Haaland missed a floated effort, sent in by newly appointed captain Bernardo Silva. It was too high for the Norwegian striker, but the goal was gaping and enticing.

Munetsi’s opener for Wolves was ruled out for offside in the 26th minute, as he missed another opportunity minutes later – also deemed offside. The Zimbabwean adopted an advanced role on the right flank, differing from his conventional position as a defensive midfielder.

Inevitably, Haaland tapped in City’s first goal of their  2025/26 campaign in the 34th minute, a contribution he has maintained on the opening matchday for the previous three seasons. The goal was courtesy of outstanding play from Tijjani Reijnders and a Rico Lewis assist. The Dutchman chipped the ball over the Wolves defence, which was picked up by the young fullback, who threaded a pass across through to the talisman.

Reijnders, on his Premier League debut, doubled City’s advantage minutes later after poor defensive control from Emmanuel Agbadou. Oscar Bobb picked up his loose pass, ensured it progressed to the Dutchman, who slotted the ball past José Sá. The goalscorer arrived from AC Milan over the summer for £46.5m and is already proving to be a catalyst in Guardiola’s midfield.

City retained their authority over the hosts, as the scoreline remained 2-0 by the time referee Jarred Gillett blew for half-time.

Jørgen Strand Larsen almost brought Wolves within touching distance of a comeback at the beginning of the second half. The other Norwegian striker attempted to bypass Trafford at the near post, but his shot went slightly wide of the woodwork. Wolves had to play without their centre forward for a few minutes after worrying scenes saw the 25-year-old briefly leave the field.

Haaland’s brace extended Manchester City’s command over the hosts, just past the hour mark, after a combined effort from Bobb and Reijnders on the right flank.

A scuffle between Strand Larsen and Lewis after the goal prompted a swift VAR check, but nothing came of it. Instead, the City fullback received an unwelcome send-off by the home supporters.

With over 15 minutes to go, debutants such as Jhon Arias, Fer López and Rayan Cherki were introduced to the Premier League – the latter adopting the departed Jack Grealish’s No.10 jersey.

Cherki ensured there was no way back for Wolves as he netted his first Premier League goal for City eight minutes after coming on.

Manchester City soared to the top of the Premier League on opening day, while Wolves plummeted to the bottom, as they face Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth next weekend, respectively.

The lineups

WOL: Sá; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti; Hoever, André, Gomes, Møller Wolfe; Munetsi, Larsen, Bellegarde

MCI: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Aït-Nouri; Reijnders, Nico, Silva; Bobb, Haaland, Doku