Josko Gvardiol placed a finish into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time for the winner, which was initially given offside before being awarded following a video review, after Marc Guehi had equalised with a 84th-minute header from a corner.
Maresca hugged his players on the field after the final whistle on Sunday. A huge banner, reading "Welcome back Enzo," had been held aloft by City fans as the Italian — Pep Guardiola's assistant in City's treble-winning 2022-23 season — emerged from the tunnel for his first home game as manager.
Wearing a sharp, black suit, Maresca certainly looked the part on the touchline but the slickness synonymous with City's play under Guardiola down the years wasn't quite there until the late comeback sparked by substitute Rayan Cherki, who set up both goals.
"I was very pleased when the game started, to see the banner on the other side. And I was pleased because we give them the joy of the three points," beamed Maresca.
"It was quite emotional, and the perfect day."
City striker Erling Haaland wasn't on the scoresheet in the first league game of the season for the first time since joining the club in 2022. He sported a new hairstyle — a buzz cut that went viral on social media ahead of kickoff — and wasted a couple of great chances to score with it.
Maresca began his time as Guardiola's replacement with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend and has had to deal with the departure of star midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.
But City might have found a long-term replacement for Rodri in 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is set to join from Lille for 100 million euros according to French media.
Elsewhere, Brighton scored four goals in the opening 31 minutes and also missed a slew of great chances in a 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa.
Villa's Joao Gomes was sent off for kicking out at Georginio Rutter in the 40th but the visitors somehow didn't concede any more goals after a two-minute double from Jack Hinshelwood (30 and 31mins) followed Victor Lindelof's own goal (eight minutes) and Maxim De Cuyper's strike (18min).
