"After 52 minutes, joy for Antoine Semenyo on his Manchester City debut. Rayan Cherki's pirouette presaged him threading the ball in behind Exeter's defence for the wideman to run in and beat Joe Whitworth to cap a memorable display. A little later Semenyo was replaced to an ovation and, from his seat in the stands, the suspended Pep Guardiola, in a flat cap and winter coat, surely approved as much as he did of what closed as a club-equalling record 10-1 win as City."
"As he sought, at the fourth attempt, to win a first game of 2026, Guardiola sent out an XI that included Rodri, Erling Haaland, Cherki, Nathan Ake and the two debutants: the right-back, McAidoo, 17, and the 62.5m man, Semenyo, who operated on the left. Exeter, 14th in League One and unbeaten in their last three games, had never faced City in their 125-year history."
Antoine Semenyo scored on his Manchester City debut after Rayan Cherki threaded a pass behind Exeter's defence, and was later replaced to an ovation while suspended Pep Guardiola watched from the stands. Manchester City won 10-1, equalling the club record for largest victory; Huddersfield in 1987 was the last team beaten by that margin. Goals included Tijjani Reijnders' curled finish, Nico O'Reilly's flicked header, Ryan McAidoo's 18-yard finish on his debut, and Rico Lewis's second. Exeter's George Birch scored a consolation. Guardiola selected an XI featuring Rodri, Erling Haaland, Cherki, Nathan Ake and two debutants.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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