**Maresca Delighted by Semenyo-Marmoush Partnership After City Beat Atletico**
Manchester City concluded their preseason tour of Asia with a commanding 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, a match that showcased the burgeoning partnership between wide players Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush. The game, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, attracted over 50,000 fans and served as a fitting finale to City's Asian campaign.
City manager Enzo Maresca expressed his satisfaction with the performance, particularly highlighting the contributions of his wide players. Semenyo played a pivotal role, providing assists for Marmoush, who scored twice within three minutes early in the second half. The match also saw substitute Rayan Ait-Nouri add a third goal in stoppage time, helping City overturn a first-half deficit.
“Overall, it was a very good test against one of the best teams in Europe,” Maresca remarked after the match. “Credit to the players for the effort they have done. From tomorrow, pre-season is finished, and the real business starts.”
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, City fell behind just before halftime when Atletico's Jorge Dominguez scored from close range, taking advantage of a rare opportunity against the run of play. However, the second half saw a resurgence from City, starting with Semenyo's impressive run down the left flank. In the 57th minute, he delivered a precise cross that allowed Marmoush to slide in and equalize.
Just two minutes later, the duo struck again, with Semenyo providing another low cross that Marmoush converted, showcasing their effective partnership. Semenyo concluded the tour with an impressive tally of four assists across three matches, while Savinho also stood out on the opposite wing.
Maresca acknowledged the need for improvement in City’s efficiency in front of goal, stating, “We need to be clinical. It’s something we need to improve. Slowly we are getting there, and with Erling (Haaland), we can be even more dangerous. Today Omar scored twice. This is a boost.”
The match against Atletico marked the end of City's Asian tour, which also included a draw against Inter Milan and a penalty shootout defeat. Maresca, who took over managerial duties from Pep Guardiola, expressed optimism about the progress made during this initial stretch in charge.
Looking ahead, Manchester City will face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16, as they prepare to transition from preseason to competitive fixtures.