London (AFP)

Manchester City ideally launched its operation to win back the title by going to win Monday at Wolverhampton (3-1), for the second day of the Premier League but its first match of the season.

Arrived in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, City had obtained the postponement of their match of the first day against Aston Villa, and offered themselves a success in the form of exorcism.

Relegated far from Liverpool last season - 18 points in the end despite their second place - the Citizens had lost twice against Wolves last year, including a defeat at Molineux 3-2 after leading 2- 0 after 50 minutes of play.

It's also a victory which makes City the first English club to win their first game of the season for ten consecutive years.

With their defensive rookie, the Dutchman Nathan Ake, holder alongside John Stones in the axis, to the detriment of Aymeric Laporte who had tested positive for Covid two weeks ago, City suffocated his opponent in the first act.

His very effective counter-pressing completely prevented Nuno Espirito Santo's men from getting the ball out cleanly.

Pep Guardiola's men logically took the lead by Kevin de Bruyne who did justice to the penalty after being mown in the area in a somewhat naive way by Romain Saïss behind in the action (1-0, 20th) .

- Wolves give up their chance -

The second goal was the work of the young Phil Foden (20), called to replace David Silva in the attack of the Sky Blue, very cleverly served in withdrawal by Raheem Sterling, who could have stuck his ball above the goalkeeper after being marked out by de Bruyne (2-0, 32nd).

Wolverhampton, whose transition from a blocking game to a possession game wanted by his coach this season will take a little time to bear fruit, can only blame himself for the clumsiness of his attackers, unable to frame a shooting for 78 minutes.

Luckily, their first well-adjusted attempt hit the mark, a header from Raul Jimenez at the near post on a cross from their pocket winger (1.65m) Daniel Podence (2-1, 78th).

But Wolves will regret the 5-6 minutes of strong time at the start of the second act where Podence twice (54, 59th), Ruben Neves (56th) and especially Jimenez, who missed the frame on a center behind Adama Traoré (60th), should have restarted the match and made their opponent more doubtful.

Gabriel Jesus' extra-time goal will give this success a false sense of ease.

But to come away with a victory of this type of match, having suffered but resisted, will give confidence to City who have let slip too many points of matches which they dominated last season.

In the first match of the evening, Sheffield United, reduced to ten in the 12th minute and who missed a penalty in the 36th, suffered a second setback against Aston Villa (1-0).

Full results of the 2nd day:

Saturday

Everton - West Brom 5 - 2

Leeds United - Fulham 4 - 3

Manchester United - Crystal Palace 1 - 3

Arsenal - West Ham 2 - 1

Sunday

Southampton - Tottenham 2 - 5

Newcastle - Brighton 0 - 3

Chelsea - Liverpool 0 - 2

Leicester - Burnley 4 - 2

Monday

Aston Villa - Sheffield United 1 - 0

Wolverhampton - Manchester City 1 - 3

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