Reijnders Shines, Enzo Maresca Claims First Win with Man City

Enzo Maresca secured his maiden win as Manchester City manager after the Blues beat the K-League All-Stars 3-1 in a preseason game held on the night of August 5th at the Seoul World Cup Stadium (South Korea).

Despite playing in temperatures reaching around 36°C, Man City displayed superior squad quality and playing style, delivering a victorious debut for the Italian coach.

Right from the kickoff, Man City dominated the game with excellent ball control. In the 8th minute, new signing Tijjani Reijnders weaved past defenders on the right flank before crossing for Rayan Ait-Nouri to score from close range, opening the account for the Premier League representatives.

The K-League All-Stars responded quickly. Minutes later, Kim Dae Won fired a shot through a crowd of players in the box, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma to level the score.

However, Man City soon showed their class difference. In the 20th minute, Antoine Semenyo produced a clever backheel to set up Reijnders, who sprinted forward and slotted into the far corner to restore the visitors' lead. Within ten minutes, Divin Mubama took advantage of a hesitant clearance by goalkeeper Song Bum Keun to chip the ball home, making it 3-1 before halftime.

In the second half, both teams made wholesale changes with a total of 24 substitutions, which significantly slowed the match tempo. Man City still created several notable chances. Young talent Jeremy Monga once put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for handball. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gu Seong Yun made multiple saves against shots from Savinho, Omar Marmoush, and Monga himself.

The standout performer for Man City was Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch midfielder scored one goal, provided another assist, and constantly caused trouble with his intelligent runs into the box. After a promising first season, Reijnders continues to show he can become a key element in Maresca's system for the 2026/27 campaign.

The victory over the K-League All-Stars allowed Man City to conclude their second friendly of the Asian tour with plenty of optimism. The next challenge for Enzo Maresca's squad will be a clash with Atletico Madrid on August 9th, also at Seoul World Cup Stadium, before finalizing their preparations for the new season.