Manchester City Edge K-League All Stars 3-1 in Seoul Pre-Season Clash
Manchester City secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over the K-League All Stars in a pre-season friendly held in sweltering conditions in Seoul. The match, which served as a key test for new manager Enzo Maresca, saw City dominate proceedings from start to finish, with the Italian tactician earning his first win at the helm. The result provides a positive early indicator for the Premier League champions as they continue their preparations for the upcoming season.
Maresca opted for heavy rotation at half-time, introducing a host of changes including Marcus Bettinelli, Savinho, and Nico Gonzalez. Further substitutions throughout the second half gave valuable minutes to promising youngsters such as Claudio Echeverri, Jeremy Monga, and Jaden Heskey. This approach allowed City to maintain their intensity while offering a glimpse into the club’s future talent, with the young players impressing in the sweltering heat.
After the restart, City remained on top, with Phil Foden forcing an early save before Tijjani Reijnders tested substitute goalkeeper Gu Seong-Yun from distance. The K-League All Stars, despite their best efforts, struggled to contain City’s fluid attacking play. The match also saw a brief scare when Lewis went down, but he was soon back on his feet and appeared to be okay, much to the relief of the City bench and fans.
In his post-match assessment, Sky Sports highlighted Maresca’s first win in charge, noting the positive signs in City’s performance. The finishing XI featured a blend of experience and youth, including Bettinelli in goal, a backline of Nunes, Alleyne, Reis, and Mfuni, with Gonzalez and Heskey in midfield, and an attacking trio of Savinho, Echeverri, and Monga supporting Marmoush. This mix suggests Maresca is keen to build a squad with depth and versatility, ready for the challenges ahead.
Shimanta Das 
