Man City show depth in Palermo win

Manchester City beat Palermo 2-0 in their final pre-season friendly and Pep Guardiola has plenty to think about before Wolves

Man City tighten squad depth in Palermo friendly

Manchester City secured a 2-0 win over Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, their last warm-up before the season with Wolves. Erling Haaland opened the scoring after a setup from Rico Lewis, and Tijjani Reijnders came off the bench to net twice after halftime, easing any lingering pre-season doubts. The night also offered a peek at Guardiola’s rotation, with ten changes at the break as City tested options and the balance between rest and readiness.

In Sicily, City experimented with a Rodri replacement pairing, deploying Nico Gonzalez and Nico O'Reilly in midfield while Ilkay Gundogan stepped into the same role later on. O'Reilly struggled with his touch at times, and Gonzalez showed flashes but did not yet inspire confidence as a starter against Wolves. Rico Lewis impressed again, contributing to the opener and continuing his case for a starting spot at right-back, while Cherki pressed for a broader attacking role and Reijnders demonstrated box-to-box energy with a double in the second half. John Stones returned from a six-month lay-off and displayed the class that could anchor City’s defense if his fitness holds up.

The fixture underscored how Guardiola is blending experience with youth. Haaland remains the focal point, but the around him is being built to ensure more goals and more sustained pressure from the front. City’s pre-season is less about results and more about finding combinations that survive a demanding schedule while keeping the core principles intact ahead of the Wolves challenge.

City’s pre-season is clearly a testing ground for depth, not just a warm-up. Guardiola is rotating heavily to identify a reliable midfield spine beyond Rodri and to see if Nico Gonzalez, Nico O'Reilly, or Ilkay Gundogan can fill that role when needed. Lewis continuing at right-back signals trust in youth, but the bigger question is whether he and Cherki can grow into consistent threats at the highest pace. The win against Palermo offers a positive signal, yet it also exposes vulnerabilities that will be punished in tougher matches.

The other takeaway is the accumulation of options in attack. Reijnders’ form after the break and Cherki’s willingness to take responsibility point to a more dynamic front line. Stones’ comeback hints at a potential lift for City’s defense if fitness can be managed through a congested campaign. The real test comes at Wolves when the tempo rises and mistakes carry sharper consequences. City look capable, but consistency remains the mission.

Highlights

City head into the season with options and questions in equal measure, a sign of a squad that could adapt to whatever the campaign throws at them.