James McAtee scored his first goal for Manchester City, helping the team secure a 4-0 victory against Slovan Bratislava. Despite the absence of Rodri, whose presence typically provides stability and control in midfield, Pep Guardiola's side managed to dominate the match and achieve a convincing win in their opening game of the 36-team league phase. To compensate for Rodri's absence, Guardiola opted for Ilkay Gündogan and Matheus Nunes in central midfield. However, City struggled at times to maintain possession, particularly around Slovan Bratislava's penalty area, which left them vulnerable to counterattacks—issues that Rodri usually mitigates with his play. McAtee's goal in the 73rd minute capped off a strong performance from City, marking a significant milestone for the young player as he found the net in club colors for the first time.