Manchester City beat Southampton on Saturday and it was another positive day at the office for Matheus Nunes.
Manchester City won 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to an early goal from Erling Haaland.
Many expected a greater scoreline. But the Saints deserve credit for the way they played and City still yet to look totally comfortable without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
Nunes had impressed in midweek in the Champions League against Sparta Prague. And he was rewarded with another start against the Saints.
Nunes was again used largely from the left side, and it took him all of five minutes to make an impact, as he found Haaland with a perfect cross.
That is now six goal contributions this season for Nunes, with only Haaland having more.
Matheus Nunes has found his mojo for Man City, as Pep Guardiola praises star
For many people before this week, the jury has still very much been out on Nunes.
He joined in the summer of 2023 from Wolves for a £53 million fee and last term, we only really saw flashes of his quality.
But amid a number of injury problems for City right now, Nunes has had a few opportunities and looked really good.
After the game against Southampton, Guardiola was full of praise for Nunes, saying: “And Matheus [Nunes] is in a position that is not his natural position again so offensively and defensively, make another assist. He played really good.”
- Who is Matheus Nunes? Get to know the midfielder
Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish have new competition
It has been a great week for Nunes, and his last couple of performances may well have a couple of players just looking over their shoulders a bit.
Ahead of the game with Sparta, it was confirmed that both Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish had picked up injuries.
Seemingly, the one for Grealish is only relatively minor. Doku may not be back until after the next international break.
With neither able to feature, Nunes has been used on the left – and he’s looked genuinely really good.
| Matheus Nunes for Man City (all competitions) |
| Appearances – 41 |
| Goals – 2 |
| Assists – 9 |
| Trophies won – 3 |
Nunes is a natural number eight, and someone who is very good at carrying the ball. However, he certainly has a profile that could see him thrive as a winger. He’s fast, he’s strong, well-balanced and technical.
And we’ve seen him be able to create from wide positions.
Savinho is perhaps less affected here, as he seems to be more of an option to play on the right.
But Nunes’ emergence as a viable left wing option is certainly interesting, and Grealish and Doku will both need to put the work in once they’re back fit.
