Manchester City FC
5 August 2026
Manchester City FC
5 August 2026
Enzo Maresca secured his first victory as Manchester City manager as his side registered a 3-1 pre-season win over a K-League All Stars XI at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Played in stifling conditions in the South Korean capital, the weather posed a serious challenge for both teams, but City produced an impressive display of attacking football during the first half.
Goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Divin Mubama put City in control before a second half featuring 24 substitutions across the two sides led to a far slower tempo.
City will be back at the same venue on Sunday to conclude the club’s pre-season tour of Asia against Atletico Madrid. That game will once again be shown live worldwide on CITY+ except in South Korea and Spain.
With the temperature hovering around 36 degrees Celsius at kick-off, keeping possession was crucial.
City started brightly and made the pressure count in the eighth minute when Tijjani Reijnders twisted past his marker on the right flank and sent in a low ball to Rayan Ait-Nouri, who finished with his right foot.
But the hosts responded almost straightaway as Kim Dae Won drove a low effort through a crowd of players and into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net.
City restored their advantage in the 20th minute when an inventive backheel from Antoine Semenyo sent Reijnders through, and the midfielder finished confidently.
Divin Mubama added the third a few minutes later, reacting to a saved effort before lofting the ball over goalkeeper Song Bum Keun.
Phil Foden, in particular, may have felt he should have gone into the break with a goal of his own, but it did not happen for the Academy graduate.
City changed things around at half-time while the hosts also made sweeping alterations, giving the second period the feel of an exhibition contest.
There was still some attacking danger, with Jeremy Monga having a goal disallowed on his first City appearance after he was judged to have handled the ball.
Substitute goalkeeper Gu Seong Yun denied late efforts from Savinho, Omar Marmoush and Monga, but City could still be thoroughly satisfied with the evening’s work as Enzo Maresca claimed his first win.
CITY XI: Donnarumma (Bettinelli 46), Khusanov (Reis 46), Dias (C) (Alleyne 46), Gvardiol (Mfuni 46), Ait-Nouri (Monga 60), Lewis (Nunes 60), Kovacic (Nico 46), Reijnders (Heskey 60), Semenyo (Savinho 46), Foden (Echeverri 60), Mubama (Marmoush 60)
Subs: Wint, Chabot, Braithwaite, Mukasa, Sangare, F. Samba, Henderson-Hall, Parker
K-LEAGUE ALL STARS XI: Song Bum Keun (Gu Seong Yun 46), Kim Moon Hwan (Ibiza 46), Yazan (Kim Ryun Sung 46), Eo Jeong Won (Ahn Tae Hyun 46), Lee Ki Hyeok (Ki Sung Yueng 46), Kim Dae Won (Kim Ju Chan 46), Kim Bong Soo (Son Jeong Beom 35), Mateus (Mugosa 46), Park Tae Jun (Ha Seung Woon 46), Yago (Galego 46), Lee Dong Gyeong (C) (Lee Seung Woo 46)
Subs: Kwon Kyung Won, Moon Min Seo
Attendance: 28,036
“For us the result is always important, even if it is a friendly game - but the most important thing is to see the effort of the players, especially in this weather.
“Also, compared to the last game in some aspects we did some things better.”
Tijjani Reijnders - The Dutch midfielder posed a constant threat to the K-League defence, repeatedly finding space high on the inside-right channel.
He made the first goal, gliding past his marker near the edge of the area and drilling the ball across the six-yard box, where it eventually reached Rayan Ait-Nouri to finish.
His energetic bursts into the penalty area paid off again shortly afterwards, as he ran on to Antoine Semenyo’s backheel and guided the ball into the far corner.
“It was so hot.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played in these conditions. I’ve played in Spain for a couple of years and in the summer it was hot, but not like this.
“I think the idea is clear, we try to arrive to the wingers and then we have a lot of quality on the wing, so they can do 1v1 all the time.
“I think the main idea is the same again, we want to win the ball back as quick as possible and have the ball.
“Then there’s some things that change, but the main idea is the same.”
It is worth stressing again just how punishing the heat was for this match and how uncommon it is for those involved to have to cope with such extreme conditions.
There is little doubt it played a part in the drop in tempo and probably affected some decisions as fatigue set in early.
But if City’s players can come through this, then returning to the blazing Manchester summer for the start of the season should feel straightforward by comparison.
City’s third and final game of this pre-season tour will take place on Sunday 9 August against Atletico Madrid.
The match starts at 12:00 (UK) and will be available to watch worldwide, except in South Korea and Spain, on mancity.com and the club’s official app with a CITY+ subscription.
