Opening Day Records: City’s Historic First Match Wins Unpacked

Manchester City will begin their quest for a ninth Premier League crown and 11th English top-flight title when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Saturday, 16 August 2025, with kick-off set for 17:30 (UK). The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports.

The fixture marks City’s 29th opening day since the rebrand of the Premier League in 1992, and history suggests the reigning champions will be confident of another fast start.

Opening Day Record: Impressive and Consistent

Manchester City boast a formidable record in season openers:

• ✅ 16 wins from 28 opening matches (57% win rate)

• ⚽ 50 goals scored, averaging 1.79 per game

• 🧤 Just 26 goals conceded

• ❌ Only six losses, and six draws

City’s first Premier League opening day win came in 2003, a 3-0 victory over Charlton, with goals from Anelka, Sibierski, and Sun Jihai.

Biggest Wins & Highest Scorers on Matchday One

City’s largest opening day win came in 2019, demolishing West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium. Sterling’s hat-trick, alongside goals from Jesus and Aguero, showcased City’s early dominance.

Sergio Aguero leads the club’s opening day goal charts with 7 goals, including a memorable brace on his debut in 2011 against Swansea. Erling Haaland is second, having scored five goals in three opening day games, including doubles against West Ham and Burnley.

Guardiola’s Curtain-Raiser Legacy

Under Pep Guardiola, City have won 8 of 9 season openers, scoring 21 goals and conceding just 3. His debut Premier League match ended in a 2-1 win over Sunderland, setting the tone for a record-breaking era.

The only blemish came in 2021, a narrow 1-0 loss to Tottenham, which also stands as the only match under Pep where City failed to score on opening day.

Managerial Milestones: Pellegrini & Eriksson Perfect

Only two managers in City history boast a 100% win rate in opening Premier League matches:

• Sven-Göran Eriksson: 2-0 win at West Ham (2007)

• Manuel Pellegrini: 3-for-3 with wins over Newcastle (home and away) and West Brom

How to Get Tickets for the 2025/26 Season

Supporters can purchase match tickets for the upcoming season by becoming a Matchday Member or Junior Member. Membership benefits include:

• 🎁 Welcome gift

• 🎟️ Priority access to tickets

• 🎉 Exclusive competitions and discounts

Tickets are subject to availability and qualifying criteria.

Looking Ahead

City’s 2025/26 campaign opens with the hunger to build on their strong record and push for further domestic dominance. With Wolves as the first hurdle and Guardiola’s winning formula still intact, fans can expect another exciting start to the new season.