GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Bournemouth
14 mins: Marmoush breaks the deadlock! The noise ratchets up every time City press forward but this almost takes the Etihad by surprise – he drifts into the centre of the area and curls a magnificent effort, with incredible spin, power and precision, right into the top corner from 30 yards out. Kepa leaps to it but has no chance. That was a beauty.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:16
Bournemouth can look a threat on the counter
An odd mix of a Manchester City team tonight with fast, physical players in defence and four thirty-something midfielders, including De Bruyne, who is playing off the right wing. It means Bournemouth can look a threat on the counter-attack.
Richard Jolly
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:13
Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth
10 mins: De Bruyne has been busy so far. He threads a pass through to Nunes, who gets his foot to it, but Kepa – after a moment of hesitation – rushes off his line to smother.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:12
Chance! Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth
8 mins: Silva has a great chance but can’t find a teammate for a pull-back. Bournemouth immediately counter, but Tavernier takes too long to take a touch on the edge of the City box and is robbed.
Now City recycle a move set up by De Bruyne; Zabarnyi heads off his cross but it winds into the path of Kovacic, who shoots and fires narrowly wide.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:09
Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth
6 mins: Ruben Dias is caught napping and Kluivert darts round him – but does he slip? It looks like he loses his footing and his shot is tamely fired at Ederson.
City counter and De Bruyne does what he does best, turning round a lovely ball on the spin for Silva. Silva is marked closely by Kerkez and lays it off on the edge of the area but the move loses steam and Kepa collects.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:06
Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth
2 mins: Some early pressing by Bournemouth; Kerkez is given lots of space down the left and lays the ball off for Tavernier, but no-one can meet his cross.
Semenyo lobs in the resulting throw-in but it’s claimed easily by Ederson.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:03
KICK-OFF: Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 20:01
Kevin de Bruyne leads City out
Huge cheers greet Kevin de Bruyne’s face as it’s flashed up on the big screens, and the fans unfurl a massive banner reading ‘king’.
Moments from kickoff in his last home game for the side.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 19:59
Team news
Man City XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Marmoush, Haaland.
Substitutes: Ortega, Ake, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Rodri, Foden, Bobb, O’Reilly
Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Araujo, Zabaryni, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Tavernier, Semenyo, Kluivert, Evanilson.
Substitutes: Dennis, Senesi, Smith, Soler, Akinmboni, Brooks, Winterburn, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry.
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 19:56
‘Welcome returns’ for City
Yesterday, Pep Guardiola did not guarantee that Kevin de Bruyne would start his final game at the Etihad. Perhaps it was a bit of kidology but he does. There are a few welcome returns in what is a huge game for City: Mateo Kovacic, who missed the FA Cup final, is back in the team, Rodri, after an eight-month absence, is back on the bench. And an old City favourite is here tonight, too, in Pablo Zabaleta.
Richard Jolly
Flo Clifford20 May 2025 19:53
