The post-Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City began with late, late drama as Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time winner sealed a 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth and handed Enzo Maresca a winning start to life at the Etihad.
City had been stunned and were heading for a shock opening-day defeat after Marcus Tavernier's first-half strike, but two late goals in the final seven minutes turned the game on its head in front of a frantic home crowd.
Bournemouth, disciplined and dangerous on the break, struck in the 26th minute. City failed to deal with a direct long ball, Rayan released Evanilson down the right, and the Brazilian's low cross found Tavernier unmarked at the far post for a simple finish.
Haaland had a header kept out by Petrovic, but that was City’s only real opportunity to equalise before half-time, and Bournemouth could easily have gone further ahead before the interval.
Tavernier curled wide from the edge of the box, while Justin Kluivert’s drive was parried by Donnarumma, with no red and black shirts attacking the rebound.
Maresca, appointed this summer after Guardiola's departure, watched his side dominate possession but struggle for incision. The introduction of Rayan Cherki in the 63rd minute, in place of O’Reilly, proved decisive.
The French playmaker, who had been the star in midweek at Swansea, brought instant creativity and verticality. City kept pressing, and were finally rewarded in the 84th minute when new signing Marc Guehi rose highest to power home a corner and haul City level.
Cherki sent a corner into the box and Guéhi, left completely unmarked in the middle, headed the ball straight past Petrović and into the net.
The winner came in the 91st minute and it was Cherki again at the heart of it. The 22-year-old poked a clever ball through a gap in the Bournemouth back line, Gvardiol swivelled inside the box before slotting home.
His close-range finish was initially ruled offside, only for a VAR review to overturn the decision and spark wild celebrations at the Etihad.
It was a statement of character from Maresca's side. City finished with Donnarumma in goal; a back four of Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol and O'Reilly; Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva in midfield; and Cherki, Foden, Doku and Haaland in attack, with Rodri returning late on for his first minutes.
In the day's other early kick-off, Aston Villa suffered a nightmare start as they were hammered 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park. All the goals and a red card came in a chaotic first half, an own goal by Victor Lindelof, followed by a Maxim De Cuyper finish, before Jack Hinshelwood scored twice in less than two minutes.
