MANCHESTER City slipped comfortably back into their old routine at Molineux.
Two quick-fire first-half goals got their season off to a flier, Erling Haaland’s third just after the hour killed off the hosts – and a late effort from sub Rayan Cherki rubbed salt into the wounds
EPAManchester City breezed past Wolves to open their account this season[/caption]
GettyWolves looked out of their depth against City[/caption]
GettyNew signing Tijjani Reijnders ran the show for Man City[/caption]
Pep Guardiola’s crown might have slipped during a barren campaign at the Etihad last term, but a tricky opening day hurdle was safely navigated at Molineux.
The air of confidence – such a hallmark of the Catalan’s side during their run of trophy-winning success – instantly returned as the cushion afforded them the control they thrive upon to kill off games.
They didn’t have it all their own way as Vitor Pereira’s side gave them a thorough workover during the opening half-hour.
Striker Marshall Munetsi was adjudged marginally offside as he converted Matt Doherty’s cross a few minutes before the visitors opened the scoring.
And that proved to be as good as it got for the hosts who fell behind when Tijjani Reijnders lifted a ball over the top for Rico Lewis 11 minutes before the break.
The defender’s run broke Wolves’s backline and his cross was turned in at the far post by Haaland.
That upset Wolves’ rhythm and defender Emmanuel Agbadou was off-beam with a pass into Andre.
The Brazilian mis-controlled and Oscar Bobb was onto it in a flash, charging forward before finding Reijnders who drilled a left foot effort across Jose Sa and into the bottom corner.
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GettyErling Haaland was back to his usual goalscoring self[/caption]
ReutersTijjani Reijnders tucked home a delightful finish on his debut[/caption]
That knocked the stuffing out of Vitor Pereira’s side, who could have caused a scare had Jorgen Strand Larsen side-footed into the net within seconds of the re-start.
But Haaland was on hand to force home after Reijnders’s pull-back to wrap up the points.
Before kick-off there was a heartfelt tribute to Wolves’ old boy Diogo Jota.
The South Bank end of Molineux held up cards as a backdrop to a tifo of the forward in celebratory pose.
A banner in front of the stand read: ‘We’ll remember you when you walk in fields of gold’ as the home faithful paid its respects to the Portuguese star who spent three seasons at the club after arriving in 2017.
GettyA tifo of the late Diogo Jota was put up in the stands before kick off[/caption]
GettyRayan Cherki scored on his debut too[/caption]
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