Manchester City ended a run of four EPL games without a win, easing past Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 and cutting the gap to league leaders Arsenal to four points, at least temporarily.
2025/2026 Premier League
2-0
Match Report
Having followed up a disappointing Manchester Derby defeat with a UEFA Champions League humbling at the hands of Bodø/Glimt, Pep Guardiola was in desperate need of a response against rock-bottom Wolves.
Rob Edwards’ side had conceded just twice in their last four league games, but their resistance was broken early here, as former Wolves man Matheus Nunes whipped in a ball for Omar Marmoush to prod home inside six minutes.
Continuing to repay the faith in his selection over PL top scorer Erling Haaland – who was without an open-play goal in eight competitive matches – Marmoush came within inches of doubling City’s lead, striking the post in the 35th minute before VAR helped clear a potential penalty award for a Yerson Mosquera handball in the build-up.
With HT approaching, away fans would have been content to go into the break just one goal behind, but it was not to be, as Antoine Semenyo netted his third strike in four since joining City, sweeping a low shot beyond the reach of José Sá.
With a mountain to climb, Wolves set about finding a way back into the contest, and they came reasonably close to halving the deficit when André fizzed a free-kick attempt just over the bar.
Again, the visitors threatened when a Mateus Mané set-piece was headed goalwards by Mosquera, but Gianluigi Donnarumma did enough to inadvertently keep it out with his trailing hand. It wasn’t until 12 minutes from time that the hosts created a genuine second-half opening, yet Semenyo couldn’t keep his ferocious strike down as it cannoned off the crossbar.
With 86 minutes played, Mosquera’s header from a corner bounced onto the crossbar, ultimately ending hopes of a comeback as Guardiola’s side claimed the points.
The result sees City go undefeated in 31 PL matches against teams starting the day at the bottom of the standings (W25, D6), with 10 straight home wins by an aggregate score of 38-0. Crucially, three points keeps them within touching distance of Arsenal, who will look to restore a seven-point gap against Manchester United on Sunday.
As for Wolves, a run of five games unbeaten in all competitions (W2, D3) comes to an end, with PL survival remaining fanciful despite the recent upturn in results.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start
6' GOAL! Fine start for hosts as Marmoush scores an early goal! Man City 1-0 Wolves
16' Cherki's shot wide out
31' A pass by Donnarumma is almost stolen by his opponent
35' Mosquera appears to hand-ball the ball in the box but no penalty after VAR check
41' O'Reilly fires from long range but the shot flies over the crossbar
47' GOAL! Semenyo scores just before FH end as Bernardo assists! Man City 2-0 Wolves
58' Marmoush plays a pass to Semenyo but he fails to catch the ball
60' A wild effort from Cherki on the edge of the box flies well wide of the post
66' Larsen finds himself behind the opposition's defence, but he is ruled offside
78' Match Event for Man City vs Wolves
78' Semenyo storms into the box, but smashes his shot onto the crossbar
87' Mosquera outjumps the defence, but his promising header bounces away off the bar
Line-ups
Man City XI: Bernardo Silva, Donnarumma, Rodri, Omar Marmoush, Guehi, Reijnders, Antoine Semenyo, Matheus Nunes, Cherki, Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov
Subs: Ake, Haaland, Foden, Rayan Aït-Nouri, James Trafford, Doku, Lewis, Max Alleyne, Divine Mukasa
Wolves XI: Jose Sa, Hwang Hee-Chan, Santiago Bueno, Jhon Arias, Ladislav Krejci, Hugo Bueno, Yerson Mosquera, João Gomes, André, Jackson Tchatchoua, Mateus Mané
Subs: Doherty, Sam Johnstone, Jørgen Strand Larsen, David Møller Wolfe, Tolu Arokodare, Emmanuel Agbadou, Rodrigo Gomes, Fer López, Pedro Lima