Manchester City will begin their Premier League title defense with an away clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, continuing their long-running trend of starting the season on the road.
Once again, the fixture algorithm has sent the Blues away from the Etihad for the opening matchday—marking the ninth straight season they begin their campaign outside Manchester. However, there’s a twist this year: City will end the season at home, facing Aston Villa in a repeat of that dramatic 2021/22 finale, when they came back from two goals down to win 3-2 and lift the title.
City’s first appearance in front of their home fans will come against Tottenham Hotspur, and the Manchester derby follows quickly on 13th September. That matchup with United will be City’s second home game, and it’s part of a tricky opening run that includes trips to Brighton and Arsenal before September wraps up.
Early Season Clashes with Big Names
The Premier League fixture list hasn’t been overly kind to Pep Guardiola’s side, especially when it comes to showdowns with fellow contenders. Aside from the early visit of Manchester United and the trip to North London, City will host Liverpool on 8th November and will bring in Chelsea for their first match of 2026.
While that front-loads their schedule with marquee home ties, it also means the final stretch of the campaign could be tough. To keep their title ambitions alive, City will need to earn points on the road late in the season—visiting Old Trafford again on 13th January, then heading to Anfield on 7th February, a ground that has rarely been kind to them. They’ll travel to Chelsea in April, followed by a crucial home clash with Arsenal the next week.
Crunch Time in the Title Chase
If Manchester City are still within touching distance of the trophy by May, their final five matches offer a balanced mix. They will hit the road against Everton and Bournemouth, with a home date against Brentford sandwiched in between. Then comes the closing fixture—home to Aston Villa, where memories of previous title-deciding drama are still fresh.
Historically, Guardiola’s side has handled the end-of-season run-in with precision, and while this year’s setup could pose challenges, it’s far from the worst they’ve seen.
Matches Against the Promoted Clubs
Manchester City won’t see any of the promoted teams until late September, when Burnley visits the Etihad. November brings a home clash against Leeds United, and December offers a two-legged encounter with Sunderland.
The first meeting with the Black Cats comes on 6th December at home, and the reverse leg in the Northeast—set for late December—will be the final fixture of 2025.
City’s Season Openers Continue on the Road
Starting away from home has become something of a ritual for City. Not since the 2017/18 season, when they beat Brighton 2-0, have they opened the Premier League season at the Etihad. In fact, Pep Guardiola’s first season (2016/17) was the last time they had a home opener.
Even before Pep’s era, away starts were common. City’s only other recent home opener came in the 2013/14 campaign when they comfortably dispatched Newcastle 4-0. One year earlier, they launched the season with a 4-0 win over Swansea, a match remembered for Sergio Aguero’s dazzling debut.
Beyond those highlights, home starts have been rare. Since the year 2000, City have begun their Premier League journey at the Etihad just eight times in 25 seasons—a surprising statistic for a club of their stature.
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