Manchester City ended their recent wait for a Premier League win with a calm and controlled victory over Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo in the first half were enough to earn the Man City 2-0 Wolves result and give Pep Guardiola’s side their first league success in nearly a month.
The result lifted City to within four points of leaders Arsenal, although the Gunners can move seven points clear again if they beat Manchester United on Sunday.
For Wolves, the defeat was another difficult moment in a hard season. They remain bottom of the table with just eight points from 23 games and are now 14 points from safety.
Manchester City started the game with clear purpose and energy. After a run of mixed results in the league, there was a sense of urgency in the way they moved the ball and pressed Wolves from the opening minutes.
That approach paid off quickly. In the sixth minute, City took the lead through Omar Marmoush, who was making his first league start since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Starting ahead of Erling Haaland, Marmoush showed sharp movement inside the penalty area to meet a cross from Matheus Nunes.
Nunes delivered a low ball from the right, and Marmoush arrived at the right moment to fire home from close range. It was his first league goal of the season and a confident finish that settled any early nerves around the stadium.
The early goal allowed City to control the match. They dominated possession and kept Wolves pinned deep in their own half.
Guardiola’s side moved the ball patiently, switching play and looking for spaces between the lines, while Wolves struggled to get out and build attacks of their own.
Wolves did try to stay compact and limit space, but City’s passing and movement gradually wore them down. Rayan Cherki and Bernardo Silva found pockets of space, while the full-backs pushed high to stretch the play.
Despite City’s control, clear chances were limited for much of the first half. Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was rarely forced into action, and his defence worked hard to block shots and crosses.
However, just as it looked like City would go into the break with a narrow lead, they struck again in first-half injury time.
Bernardo Silva picked up the ball on the right and played a measured pass into the path of Antoine Semenyo. Signed two weeks ago from Bournemouth, Semenyo showed calmness and confidence. He took one touch to set himself before hitting a low shot past Jose Sa and into the corner of the net.
It was Semenyo’s first league goal for the club and a moment that brought a big cheer from the home fans. The timing of the goal was important, giving City a comfortable cushion going into half-time and leaving Wolves with a big task in the second half.
After the break, with Man City 2-0 Wolves result, Pep Guardiola’s boys were in no rush. They focused on control rather than speed. Guardiola’s side kept possession, slowed the tempo, and made Wolves chase the ball for long periods.
Wolves tried to show more ambition in the second half, pushing their midfield higher and attempting to press City earlier.
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They had a little more of the ball and managed a few forward moves, but they lacked the quality in the final third to truly test City’s defence. The Sky Blues remained organised at the back, with defenders quick to step out and intercept passes.
Speaking after the match, Omar Marmoush revealed what Guardiola wants from all his players.
“We fought until the end, showed a very good mentality from the beginning. He [Pep Guardiola] wanted us to put our hearts out there and fight for every ball,” the Egyptian explained per City Xtra
“It’s important to score and help. I’m very happy to be here after AFCON and help my team. I saw Matheus [Nunes] broke through and it was a good finish. Happy for the goal and three points.
“We just try to get our legs and mind fresh again and then we go again.”
