City made several signings this summer - Reijinders from Milan, Nouri from Wolves,
Cherki from Lyon, Trafford from Burnley, Nypan from Rosenborg and Bettinelli from Chelsea
Palermo 3-0 away August 9th 2025
A very unusual friendly game that City easily won with 22 players!!! Pep made ten changes at half time to give his huge squad a bit of time on the pitch. The starting team was -
Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, O'Reilly, Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush and Haaland.
Rodri, Kovacic and Foden were still injured so they were not on the bench. It was good to see Bobb back after his injury and Trafford was making his debut after his move from Burnley. He was an ex City academy player.
The pre game entertainment delayed the start by 15 minutes as the singer - Rose Villian kept singing!!
There was a big crowd -over 50,000 on a very hot night.
Palermo had an early chance at a corner when a header went wide but then City took control and
won a series of free kicks. On 38 minutes Lewis passed to Haaland who shot past the keeper to give City the lead.
At half time Pep made ten yes ten changes - Haaland being the only player from the first half. The team was - Ederson, Ake, Dias, Akanji, Nunes, Benardo Gundogan, Reijinders, Savinho, Doku , Haaland.
Haaland was subbed by Musaka on 60 minutes.
City added to their score on 59 minutes when Reijinders dashed into the area and shot past Gomis to make it two nil.
Palermo tried to get back but their efforts went wide. With 8 minutes to go Musaka passed to Savinho who passed to Reijinders who scored his second goal and City were three nil ahead - game over!.
So City won the Anglo Palermitan Trophy and best City player was Dutch international star Reijinders
Wolves 4-0 away August 16th 2025
Several players made their Premier League debuts in the City team - Trafford, Nouri and Reijnders. Pep's team was Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Nouri: Bobb, Benardo Silva, Doku, Reijnders, Gonzalez and Haaland.
City won an early corner from a Doku run but it was cleared. Then a couple of bad defensive passes gave Wolves a chance but City managed to clear. There was a delay in the game when Andre was injured and despite City pressure they had not managed a shot on goal!
On 17 minutes Lewis won a corner and a cross by Benardo gave Haaland a chance but his header went wide. Shortly after he had another chance with a header but that went wide too!
Wolves started to have more of the play
and on 25 minutes here was a good tackle by Nouri . Wolves did get the ball in the net but Munetsi was offside so no goal.
Then City got a free kick when Doku was fouled but alas a cross from Bobb went straight to the keeper.
Shortly after a shot from Bellegarde went wide. Then City piled on the pressure and several efforts were blocked.
Then on 33 minutes Reijnders passed to Lewis who dashed down the right wing and crossed to Haaland
who had the easy task of scoring and City were ahead one nil - at last.
It got even better shortly after. A poor defensive error gave Bobb a chance on a break and he passed to Reijnders who scored to make it two nil
City continued to attack winning several corners - one of which ended with Haaland heading wide.
So half time came with City ahead 2-0.
Early in the second half Larsen had a chance for Wolves but he shot wide.
On 51 minutes Nouri shot well wide following a City attack. Then Reijnders
got a yellow card for a foul on Bellegarde.
On 56 minutes Wolves attacked but a good cross
found nobody waiting!
A minute later Trafford had to save from Larsen. Then shortly after he passed to Reijnders who passed to Haaland who scored to make it three nil to City - game over I hope!
Then City made some subs - O'Reilly replaced Benardo - Marmoush replaced Doku and Nunes replaced Lewis.
Wolves made a few changes too On 66 minutes Marmoush was fouled and Doherty got a yellow card.
After Wolves made more subs Cherki came on for Haaland on 72 minutes. A few minutes later Trafford had to make a good save from Larsen.
On 80 minutes City made it four nil - an excellent goal by Cherki from outside the penalty area.
So now it really was game over!!!
A few minutes later O'Reilly got a yellow card for a foul! On 82 minutes Khusanov came on for Stones.
No more goals for City and in added time Trafford had to make another good save. On his debut Trafford had a pretty good game but star of the match was Reijnders who scored and had an assist. He looks to be a very good signing from AC Milan for City