Manchester City strengthened their Premier League title challenge with a convincing 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, as first-half goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo secured a vital three points.
The win was a timely response from Pep Guardiola’s side following recent setbacks against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, and keeps City firmly in the hunt for the championship.
Marmoush wasted no time in making an impact, firing City ahead in the sixth minute on his first start since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt. The forward showed sharp anticipation to latch onto Matheus Nunes’ pinpoint cross before calmly steering the ball past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
City dominated much of the opening half and came close to extending their lead when Marmoush struck the post in the 36th minute. A lengthy VAR check for a potential handball went against the hosts, but they were not to be denied for long.
In stoppage time before the break, Antoine Semenyo marked his first home Premier League start in style, drilling a powerful finish from outside the box after a perfectly weighted pass from Bernardo Silva.
Wolves showed more attacking intent after the interval, forcing City to remain alert at the back. Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a solid save to deny Yerson Mosquera, while Jorgen Strand Larsen headed narrowly wide.
Semenyo came agonisingly close to adding a third in the 78th minute when his long-range effort rattled the crossbar, before City were again spared late on as Mosquera’s header also struck the woodwork.
However, Guardiola’s men held firm to seal a deserved victory.
The result keeps City in second place on the Premier League table and cuts the gap on leaders Arsenal to just four points, with the Gunners still to play on Sunday.
