Manchester City enter 2026/27 in unfamiliar territory: a new era without Pep Guardiola after his remarkable decade in charge. Enzo Maresca now inherits a team built to compete for trophies, but replacing one of the most successful managers in the club’s history brings a different kind of pressure. Follow the Manchester City season tracker for the latest news, results, transfers, performances and key developments throughout the campaign.
20 September
Three points clear before the international break
Enzo Maresca said this would be the toughest game of the season for Manchester City but few could have predicted this wild contest at the Etihad.
In the end, City outscored Sunderland 5-3 to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League before the international break, but Maresca will have plenty to address when the Premier League resumes three weeks from now.
17 September
Smooth as Samba
17-year-old debutant Floyd Samba scored twice as City swept Norwich aside 5-0 in the Carabao Cup. Samba opened the scoring with a header and added his second early in the second half in a game that has now inked his name on the club’s “ones to watch” academy list.
Nico O’Reilly, Allan and Ryan McAidoo also scored and City will now face Brighton in the next round. Six wins in six now for Maresca.
Floyd Samba Scores Twice on Debut as Manchester City Thrash Norwich
13 September
The best derby win yet?
City spent more than an hour with 10 men against Manchester United at Old Trafford, after Phil Foden was sent off, yet they still came away with a 1-0 victory. Haaland (who else?) scored the decisive goal shortly after the hour, finishing from Josko Gvardiol’s cross after the initial offside decision was overturned by VAR.
The goal itself became the main talking point after the match, with the Premier League’s refereeing body, Pro Ref (formerly PGMOL), later admitting an error in the decision. But for Maresca, the more useful fact was that City scored and then protected their lead despite being reduced to 10 men.
Four Premier League games, four wins. City are beginning to show they can win even when the gameplan is ripped into shreds.
8 September
Haaland keeps delivering
The performances in Maresca’s reign so far have not always been spectacular, but City keep finding ways to win, and Erling Haaland has been central to that.
Haaland scored twice in Porto to give City a 2-0 victory in their Champions League opener, following his winner against Coventry three days earlier. The first was a header shortly after half-time, while the second came in added time after City had controlled much of the game.
It means City have now won four straight matches since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, with Haaland scoring in each of their last two. More importantly for Maresca, his side have begun their European campaign with an away victory at one of the more difficult grounds in the competition.
5 September
Three out of three
Enzo Maresca has three out of three wins so far as head coach. There hasn’t been a sense, though, that this is a machine running very smoothly. There was rattling and shuddering against Bournemouth on the opening day, when City had to effect a late comeback to win, and here against newly promoted Coventry, the match hung in the balance for a long time.
Manchester City Hold Coventry at Bay After Haaland’s First Half Goal
28 August
Cherki and City chill at Selhurst Park
Rayan Cherki can be the difference maker for Enzo Maresca and Manchester City this season. In a summer when several of the old Guardiola cohort have departed, he has shown he could be the one who steps up into that elite team-creator role.
After coming off the bench to provide two assists against Bournemouth, Cherki was given a starting role here by Maresca and responded with two goals, taking his Premier League goal contributions for the club to 20 since joining City last season. Haaland also bagged a brace.
Cherki and Haaland Double Up as Manchester City Pile Pain on Crystal Palace
Rayan Cherki scored surrounded by five Crystal Palace defenders. pic.twitter.com/K3pFMhHWxG
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 28, 2026
23 August
Trouble looming for City?
Things didn’t get off to a great start as City lost the Community Shield 3-0 to their title rivals from last season – and now champions – Arsenal. Their transfer business has been dubious and one gets the suspicion that pain is lying somewhere ahead.
Still, they managed a comeback victory against Bournemouth on a lukewarm opening day.
Guehi and Gvardiol Score Late to Complete Manchester City Comeback Over Bournemouth
23 August
Playing without Pep
Alas, all good things must come to an end. After nearly a decade, Pep Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season. The focus at the club will be to ensure his absence is not felt on the pitch. Spare a thought, then, for Enzo Maresca, who has been assigned that task.
Enzo Maresca Faces Sizeable Task to Keep Manchester City’s Golden Age Alive After Guardiola
