Omar Marmoush delivered a second-half brace as Manchester City came from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 3-1 in their pre-season friendly in Seoul, extending Enzo Maresca’s unbeaten start as City manager.
Atlético youngster Jorge Domínguez put the Spanish side ahead in the 43rd minute, but City responded emphatically after the break. Marmoush struck in the 57th and 59th minutes before Rayan Aït-Nouri completed the turnaround in the 90th minute.
The result gives City another positive performance ahead of a much bigger test: Arsenal vs Manchester City in the 2026 FA Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August. The match will be played at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm BST.
Manchester City vs Atlético Madrid: How the Match Unfolded
City may have won 3-1, but Atlético landed the first blow.
Sixteen-year-old Jorge Domínguez broke the deadlock shortly before half-time, sending Atlético into the interval with a 1-0 advantage.
City’s response arrived quickly after the restart.
Marmoush equalised in the 57th minute before striking again only two minutes later to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 City lead. Both goals were assisted by Antoine Semenyo.
The Egyptian’s quick-fire double changed the direction of the contest and provided Maresca with another encouraging attacking option ahead of the competitive campaign.
Aït-Nouri then made the scoreline 3-1 in the 90th minute, with Divin Mubama providing the assist.
Final score: Manchester City 3-1 Atlético Madrid
| Scorer | Team | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge Domínguez | Atlético Madrid | 43′ |
| Omar Marmoush | Manchester City | 57′ |
| Omar Marmoush | Manchester City | 59′ |
| Rayan Aït-Nouri | Manchester City | 90′ |
Marmoush Gives Maresca Another Attacking Weapon
Marmoush’s brace is arguably the biggest individual takeaway from City’s victory.
Pre-season results need to be viewed cautiously, but scoring twice in the space of two minutes against Atlético is a useful confidence boost ahead of competitive football.
It also gives Maresca decisions to make in attack.
City have several players capable of influencing matches in the final third, and Marmoush showing a clinical touch increases the competition for attacking places.
That becomes especially relevant with Arsenal waiting in the Community Shield.
City Remain Unbeaten Under Enzo Maresca
The Atlético victory continued Manchester City’s unbeaten 2026 pre-season.
City opened their Asia tour with a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan before beating the K League All-Stars 3-1 and then recording another 3-1 victory against Atlético Madrid. City’s official pre-season preview confirmed that the Inter fixture was Maresca’s first match after succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Their pre-season record now reads:
- Manchester City 1-1 Inter Milan
- K League All-Stars 1-3 Manchester City
- Manchester City 3-1 Atlético Madrid
Two wins, one draw and six goals across the two victories represent a positive build-up, although competitive football will provide a much stronger indication of where Maresca’s City stand.
Manchester City Betting Outlook: What Does Pre-Season Tell Us?
For football bettors, City’s pre-season offers interesting clues — but friendly results should never be treated as a guarantee of competitive results.
One potentially encouraging sign is City’s ability to respond after conceding. Against Atlético, Maresca’s side went into half-time behind and still finished with a two-goal winning margin.
Marmoush’s performance also gives bettors another player to monitor when goalscorer markets become available during the season.
However, the Community Shield against Premier League champions Arsenal represents a significant step up from pre-season friendlies.
Rather than betting purely because City have won their last two warm-up games, bettors should consider factors such as confirmed line-ups, injuries, player rotation, recent form and the available odds before choosing a market.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Is the Next Big Test
Manchester City’s attention now turns to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August 2026.
The match has extra significance because Arsenal enter as the 2025/26 Premier League champions, while Manchester City qualified as 2026 FA Cup winners.
It will also be Maresca’s first competitive match in charge of City.
The Community Shield is being staged at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff rather than Wembley, with the FA confirming Wembley is unavailable because of pre-planned concerts.
For bettors, that fixture should provide a much clearer picture of City’s competitive level.
Betting markets to watch for Arsenal vs Man City
Once markets and confirmed team information are available, football fans could assess options such as match result, double chance, total goals, both teams to score and player goalscorer markets.
Marmoush will naturally attract attention after his Atlético brace, but his pre-season performance alone does not determine what will happen against Arsenal.
Check the latest market, team news and prices before making your selection.
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From match-result selections to goals and other available match markets, bettors can compare the options and make their own predictions based on the latest information.
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Betting should remain entertainment. Check the odds and conditions before placing a bet, stay within your limits, and only participate where legally permitted and if you meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
What Next for Manchester City?
City leave their Asian pre-season programme unbeaten, but the real examination begins in Cardiff.
Marmoush’s two-goal burst against Atlético has added momentum, Aït-Nouri has also found the net, and Maresca heads towards his competitive debut without suffering a pre-season defeat.
The next question is considerably tougher:
Can Manchester City carry that form into the Community Shield against Premier League champions Arsenal?
On 16 August, we start finding out.
