One of Pep Guardiola's major summer signings looked the part as City swept Wolves aside to start their season with a bang
Tijjani Reijnders scored one and helped make two more to inspire Manchester City to a 4-0 win over Wolves, getting their 2025-26 Premier League campaign off to the perfect start.
It was Wolves who looked the most dangerous early doors – Marshall Munetsi making Molineux erupt midway through the first half as the Zimbabwe international headed home, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
Having started off sluggishly, City then burst into life and hit their opponents with two goals in quick succession. Netherlands international Reijnders proved influential in both – first releasing Rico Lewis to allow him to cross for Erling Haaland to tap home before the former AC Milan midfielder then scored himself, galloping into space and arrowing past Jose Sa and into the corner of the net.
The Reijnders show continued in the second half as the Dutchman grabbed an assist for City's third on the hour mark. Receiving an Ederson-esque long ball from James Trafford, the 27-year-old glided forward and combined with Oscar Bobb before cutting back for Haaland – the Norwegian doing the rest as he effortlessly punched the ball into the far corner.
And that, despite there being half an hour remaining, was game, set and match, with there plenty of time left for Rayan Cherki to smash one home on his Premier League debut to make it four, sending Guardiola's men straight to the top of the table in the process.
GOAL rates Man City's players from Molineux…
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James Trafford (7/10):
An assured City debut rewarded with a clean sheet. Will be an able deputy should, as expected, City get the Donnarumma deal done.
Rico Lewis (7/10):
An energetic display that regularly saw him joining attacks. Put the ball on a plate for Haaland to open the scoring and did his bit defensively, too.
John Stones (7/10):
Made one heroic block that stopped Strand Larsen scoring a certain goal. If he can stay injury-free it'll be huge for City and their chances of winning the title.
Ruben Dias (7/10):
Sloppy in possession at times but rock solid with his defending to help the visitors earn a clean sheet.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (6/10):
A solid if unspectacular display at his old stomping ground. Didn't offer much as an attacking threat but that was likely tactical.
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Nico Gonzalez (7/10):
Crashed into challenges and carried the ball forward well in an all-action display. City didn't miss Rodri today.
Tijjani Reijnders (9/10):
A Premier League debut to remember. Played a decisive role in the opener with a jinking run and gorgeous through ball and then expertly found the corner to make it 2-0. Set-up Haaland for the third as well.
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Oscar Bobb (7/10):
Showed some neat touches and his dancing feet caused problems for Wolves' defenders. Claimed an assist for Reijnders' goal after a neat turn and break away.
Bernardo Silva (6/10):
Swung in a couple of dangerous crosses but did his best work when tracking back and getting behind the ball. Hooked midway through the second half.
Jeremy Doku (5/10):
A frustrating evening for Doku, who must drive Guardiola mad with his lack of end product. Taken off not long after the hour mark having had little impact.
Erling Haaland (8/10):
Scored two more opening-day goals – that's seven in four seasons – with a tap-in and then an assured finish into the far corner. Deadly.
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Omar Marmoush (6/10):
Brought on for Doku but proved to be a quiet cameo.
Nico O'Reilly (6/10):
Replaced Bernardo Silva after 66 minutes and helped keep things ticking over.
Rayan Cherki (7/10):
Replaced Haaland after 73 minutes for his Premier League debut and marked the occasion with a delightful spin, dart forward and precise finish.
Matheus Nunes (6/10):
On for Rico Lewis as part of a triple change.
Abdukodir Khusanov (N/A):
A late replacement for Stones.
Pep Guardiola (8/10):
Was fooling no one with his pre-match explanation for leaving out Ederson but that particular call paid off, with a largely untroubled James Trafford coming through 90 minutes unscathed. His signing of Reijnders looks inspired and he seems to have addressed many of the concerns of last season with the revamping of a squad that was going stale.