Manchester City Win Big On Season's Opening Matchday Against Wolves

 

Manchester City returned to the pitch, claiming a clean sheet victory on the Premier League opening match day by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 with Erling Haaland contributing a brace to the stat. 

Wolves failed to win a pre-season friendly during Vítor Pereira’s first pre-season in charge, which is hardly the preparation that supporters were desperate to see from the club. Wolves have won only three of the last 12 opening league day matches. 

On the other hand, City got their money's worth as newly-signed Tijjani Reijnder and Rayan Cherki, both of whom scored in the four-goal thriller. Wolves seemed impressive and coordinated, but their visitors had better control of the game. 

Haaland set off the scoring spree with the opener after half an hour, tapping home from close range a Rico Lewis' cross. Reijnders doubled the lead when O'Reilly Bobb played him following a counter inside the box. 

Again, Haaland extended the goal lead with the third, guiding into the net a left-footed shot from Reijnders' cut-back. Then, Cherki wrapped things up with a curling 18-yard shot, beating Sa to the goal. 

The plausible outing was City's 14-out-of-15 season's opening matchday victory, and for Haaland, the Norwegian striker has now scored in every opening matchday for the last four seasons. Out of the six new signings completed this summer, Reijnders and Cherki debuted to score their first goals. 

Overview

It was an impressive start to the season from the Citizens. Wolves had their moments, but were ultimately pulled apart by the kind of attacking football that City have made look so easy over the years.

Wolves had their moments. Munetsi thought he’d equalised midway through the first half, only for the offside flag to go up. Strand Larsen had a few decent sights of goal, especially right after half-time when he dragged a shot just wide of the post.

It’s not easy stepping into a midfield like City’s and looking like you’ve been there for years. But Reijners, that’s exactly what the Dutchman did. Cherki came off the bench and immediately started to make an impact. Though the Frenchman came in in the latter stages, the frontline didn't seem as devoid of a striker, and he had the chance; he made the most of the counter.