Manchester City 3–1 AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City secured a vital 3-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, significantly boosting their chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
It was a special night for Kevin De Bruyne—one of the central figures in City’s decade of dominance—as he played what could be his final home game in a City shirt. Fans packed the stands to catch a glimpse of their hero, holding up massive banners that read “King Kev.” De Bruyne missed a golden opportunity to score and make the night even more memorable, but the overall victory made for a fitting farewell.
Tuesday night’s Premier League clash saw City dominate early on. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring before Bernardo Silva doubled the lead in the first half. Late in the game, Nico González sealed the win with the third goal.
Both sides ended the match with 10 men after late red cards. Despite that, the result saw City leap three spots up the league table—putting them in strong contention for Champions League football next season.
Interestingly, it was Bournemouth who handed City their first Premier League loss of the season back in November, winning 2-1. That loss triggered a slump for Pep Guardiola’s side, who went on to lose three straight matches and soon fell out of the title race.
Six months later, City exacted their revenge—and also received a huge boost with the return of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who came back from injury after a long layoff.
Champions Liverpool and Arsenal have already sealed Champions League qualification. Liverpool have 83 points and Arsenal 71 after 37 rounds. With 68 points, Manchester City now sit in third place. Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa all follow with 66 points, while Nottingham Forest are still in the mix with 65.
Three days ago, Marmoush missed a penalty in City’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace. This time, he made amends in style. In the 14th minute, after receiving a pass from Mateo Kovačić just past midfield, the Egyptian forward surged forward and fired from nearly 30 yards out. The ball soared into the top corner—a stunning goal.
Marmoush, who joined City in January from Eintracht Frankfurt, has now scored seven goals in the Premier League.
De Bruyne had a golden chance to score in the 22nd minute. Marmoush squared a pass from the left, catching the keeper off guard. The Belgian had an open goal from just six yards but shockingly hit the crossbar. Guardiola held his head in disbelief, and the fans were stunned.
Bournemouth nearly equalized in the 33rd minute when Brazilian forward Evanilson hit the post. But five minutes later, they were punished. After struggling to clear the ball multiple times, Ilkay Gündoğan slipped a pass from the byline into the box, where Bernardo Silva calmly slotted home to make it 2-0.
City suffered a setback in the 67th minute. Evanilson broke through on a counterattack, and Kovačić pulled him down from behind—earning a straight red card.
Two minutes later, Guardiola subbed off De Bruyne. Showered in applause and love from fans, the Belgian made his emotional exit from the Etihad turf for what may be the last time in a City shirt.
Not long after, Bournemouth were also reduced to 10 men. Substitute Nico González was brought down with a reckless challenge by Lewis Cook, who was also sent off.
In the 83rd minute, Guardiola replaced Erling Haaland with Rodri, marking the Spaniard’s long-awaited return. Six minutes later, fellow Spaniard González scored a brilliant third goal to seal the victory.
In the final minute of six added minutes, Canadian forward Daniel Jebbison scored a consolation goal for the visitors.
At the final whistle, the focus turned to De Bruyne’s farewell. He raised both hands and waved to the fans, his expression filled with emotion and visible sadness.
City still have one league match left—away to Fulham on Sunday. A single point from that game will officially secure their place in next season’s Champions League.
