man city vs atlético madrid: City win 3-1 in Seoul
Manchester City beat Atlético Madrid 3-1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the final warm-up before the new season’s first major test. Omar Marmoush scored twice…
SEOUL — man city vs atlético madrid ended 3-1 for Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, August 9, 2026, in front of an attendance of 50,078. Omar Marmoush scored twice, and Rayan Aït-Nouri added a late goal after Jorge Domínguez had put Atlético ahead.
The friendly was played at 12:00 p.m. and gave City a final run-out before next week’s Community Shield against Arsenal. Atlético, meanwhile, used the match as part of its build-up to the 2026/27 campaign. Clean, sharp, and fast. Exactly what both sides wanted from a pre-season test.
man city vs atlético madrid: City turn it around after the break
Atlético struck first through Domínguez in the 43rd minute, but City took control after halftime. Marmoush equalized in the 57th minute and put Pep Guardiola’s side in front again two minutes later, finishing a brief burst that shifted the match in City’s favor.
Aït-Nouri then wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute. Sky Sports listed the final score as Manchester City 3-1 Atletico Madrid, while ESPN’s match page recorded the same sequence of goals and the same result. No extra time changed the outcome.
Manchester City also had the edge in the numbers. ESPN’s match stats showed City with 54% possession, nine shots on goal to Atlético’s three, and five big chances created. Atlético had more corners, with seven to City’s four, but City handled the pressure better in the key moments.
David Raya? No. City’s goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma was the busier keeper on the night according to ESPN’s match leaders, making five saves as Atlético tried to stay in touch. At the other end, Atlético’s Jan Oblak made two saves. City’s total pass count reached 514, with 85% accuracy, compared with Atlético’s 442 passes at 87% accuracy.
What the result means before the season starts
For City, the result matters because it came in the last friendly before a major competitive fixture. It was not a trophy match, but it did offer a useful look at rhythm, finishing, and squad sharpness. Marmoush’s quick double will stand out, as will Aït-Nouri’s late finish after City had already turned the game around.
Atlético leave Seoul with a loss, yet the match still provided a clear checkpoint in its pre-season schedule. ESPN listed the teams in different shapes and lineups, with City starting Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden among others, while Atlético started Jan Oblak, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko and Koke.
The match also fed into the wider Asia Tour setup for both clubs. City had already played Inter Milan and the K-League All Stars on its trip, while Atlético arrived after a mixed pre-season run that included a win over Getafe and a defeat to Manchester United in Sweden. For both sides, this was the kind of game that exposes timing. City found theirs late.
ESPN’s timeline showed Marmoush scoring in the 57th and 59th minutes, then Aït-Nouri settling it in the 90th minute. That late goal turned a good pre-season exercise into a clear 3-1 win.
