Manchester City 1 Bournemouth 1: City player ratings as City’s title hopes end at the Vitality Stadium | OneFootball

Manchester City 1 (Erling Haaland 90+5)

Bournemouth 1 (Junior Kroupi 39′)

Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium tonight. The result sees Arsenal crowned Premier League champions for the 2025-26 season, as Pep Guardiola’s side fought throughout the match, but they looked to have run out of legs after three games in six days and a hectic week at the club. Junior Kroupi opened the scoring for Bournemouth in the first half with an exquisite goal. Erling Haaland equalized deep into second-half stoppage time, but it wasn’t to be for Pep Guardiola’s side.

When the starting lineups were announced, Pep Guardiola had made two changes to the starting eleven that began City’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Gianluigi Donnarumma and Mateo Kovacic replaced James Trafford and Omar Marmoush, who dropped to the bench. It was a surprise to see Rodri start, given that he seemed to lack sharpness and struggled to see out the game against Chelsea.

First half.

Both teams made bright starts to the match as Bournemouth looked smooth and crisp in possession. Andoni Iraola’s side pushed City back in the opening two minutes, although City defended well to open the match. Jeremy Doku had the first shot on target of the match for Manchester City in the fifth minute. Antoine Semenyo got himself to the byline on the right and cut the ball back. The ball found Doku in the middle of the Bournemouth penalty area, and the Belgian cut inside onto his left foot. Doku got a shot on target, but it lacked power, and Bournemouth keeper Dorde Petrovic got down to his right to save with ease.

City have a goal ruled out for a clear offside.

Manchester City had the ball in the back of the net in the 12th minute. Erling Haaland picked up the ball in midfield and slipped it through to Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo beat Dorde Petrovic with a composed left-footed finish, but the Ghana international had strayed offside, and the goal was rightly ruled out. However, Pep Guardiola’s side were beginning to take control of the game with their possession play, despite Bournemouth’s energetic pressing.

Evanilson should have given Bournemouth the lead in the 15th minute. A superbly worked move on the left by the Cherries saw Marcus Tavernier play a brilliant low cross from the left. Tavernier’s cross found Evanilson unmarked, but the Brazilian striker spooned his finish well over the bar from six yards out. Evanilson may have been offside, but he should have put the ball in the back of the net as City dodged an early bullet.

Erling Haaland saw a shot blocked in the 28th minute. Bernardo Silva flighted in a corner from the left, which Rodri headed towards goal. Rodri’s downward header caused a goalmouth scramble, and the ball fell to Haaland, who fired in a stinging low drive at goal from close range on the left that the Bournemouth defence cleared away. The game was still being played at a great tempo by both teams, and it did seem like a goal was coming.

Bournemouth take the lead with a beautifully worked goal.

Andoni Iraola’s side took the lead in the 39th minute. Marcus Tavernier played in Bournemouth left-back Adrien Truffert down the left in acres of space. Truffert cut the ball back to Junior Kroupi, who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a superb curling finish from just inside the City area into the far corner to give Bournemouth the lead. Andoni Iraola’s side were having joy down the left throughout the first half, and they got their reward in the 39th minute. Manchester City had it all to do now if they were to keep the Premier League title race alive at the end of tonight’s match.

Junior Kroupi’s well-taken goal was the final significant moment of the first half. Manchester City had it all to do to turn the result around against a team that was hungry and had identified a clear weakness to attack on Manchester City’s right wing. It did feel like Rayan Cherki should come on at halftime, as while City enjoyed possession, they didn’t have a player capable of unlocking the Bournemouth defense in the first half.

Second half.

As the second half kicked off, Manchester had 45 minutes to turn the game around to keep their Premier League title hopes alive. Pep Guardiola’s side needed something special if they were to beat a Bournemouth side that had a 1-0 lead and momentum on their side. Surprisingly, Pep Guardiola made no halftime substitutions which seemed like they had to be made to turn the game around.

Nico O’Reilly should have equalized for City immediately after halftime. A flowing City move saw Antoine Semenyo make a driving run from midfield. Semenyo played the ball to Erling Haaland, who slipped a superb through ball to Nico O’Reilly, who was through on goal. O’Reilly got a left-footed shot on goal from close range that Bournemouth keeper Dorde Petrovic did superbly well to save low down to his right. It was a stunning save from Petrovic, but in truth, Nico O’Reilly should have hit the back of the net.

Gianluigi Donnarumma made a brilliant save in the 52nd minute to deny Evanilson. Bournemouth once again had joy attacking down the left, and Adrien Truffert played another brilliant low ball from the left which found Evanilson. The Brazilian striker got a shot on target that Donnarumma saved excellently low down to his right.

Pep Guardiola made a triple substitution in the 56th minute. Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, and Savinho replaced Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, and Antoine Semenyo. The triple change was telling, as it spoke of how desperate the situation was becoming for Manchester City.

Junior Kroupi curls an effort over the bar as Bournemouth push for a second goal.

Bournemouth created another quality opening on the hour mark with a flowing move. Once again, it came down the left as Adrien Truffert played yet another good ball in from the left. Evanilson found Kroupi with a sublime backheel; however, Bournemouth’s goalscorer curled his effort over the crossbar from the edge of the City area. Two minutes later, Rayan clipped the post after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Manchester City were hanging on as it seemed that three games in six days were catching up to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester City needed to dig deep as Bournemouth continued to press for a second goal.

Bournemouth looked like a threat every time they went forward, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made another big save in the 68th minute. Rayan drove at Nico O’Reilly on the right and worked himself into a great position. His cross/shot took a deflection off Nico O’Reilly and was goal-bound before Donnarumma’s strong left hand turned the ball behind for a corner.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, Manchester City somehow needed to find two goals. Bournemouth were defending superbly, and Pep Guardiola’s side looked devoid of ideas in the final third. It was getting to the point that City needed a miracle if they were to find a way to extend the title race to the final day.

David Brooks should have sealed the game for Bournemouth in the 89th minute. Once again, Andoni Iraola’s side played a good ball from the left that found Brooks unmarked at the back post. Brooks had acres of space and time to finish the game, but his shot was weak, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made another save. Thirty seconds later, Evanilson curled a left-footed effort just wide of the far post as City were wilting. In the 91st minute, Bournemouth broke, and David Brooks hit the post with Gianluigi Donnarumma beaten.

With four minutes of second half stoppage time remaining, there looked to be little hope of Manchester City producing a miracle. Pep Guardiola’s side won a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Bournemouth area after Justin Kluivert clattered Rodri. City simply had to score from the free kick. Omar Marmoush’s free kick hit the wall and the chance was gone.

Erling Haaland gives Manchester City a chance of a miracle!!!!

Manchester City would equalize in the 95th minute. A long ball was played into the Bournemouth penalty area. A series of headers were won before a City shot hit the post. The rebound fell to Erling Haaland, who fired in the rebound off the post to make it 1-1.

However, Erling Haaland’s goal would be the final moment of the match. At the final whistle, Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions as City fought until the end, but it wasn’t their night. Bournemouth were superb, and the draw sees Andoni Iraola’s side secure European football for next season. It did seem that three games in six days were too much for Pep Guardiola’s side, and you were left wondering if the week’s events became too much for City to overcome.

City player ratings.

Gianluigi Donnarumma-7.5/10: The Italian goalkeeper made several huge saves and kept City in the game. 

Matheus Nunes-6/10: It looked like the heavy workload that Matheus Nunes has carried this season finally caught up to him. Adrien Truffert was a threat for Bournemouth all night and Nunes needed help to deal with it, it never arrived. 

Abdukodir Khusanov-6/10: The Uzbekistan international wasn’t at his best, but that isn’t a knock, none of his teammates were either.

Marc Guehi-7.5/10 Guehi made a host of important defensive interventions in the first half and I thought he was City’s best player on the night. 

Nico O’Reilly-6/10: Nico O’Reilly squandered a golden opportunity to equalize for City immediately after halftime. He got into a host of dangerous positions going forward, but it wasn’t his night.

Rodri-6/10: Somehow, Rodri completed the full 90 minutes. He struggled at times but never stopped trying for his team.

Mateo Kovacic-5/10: The Croatian midfielder gave the ball away on several occasions and the game passed him by in midfield.

Bernardo Silva-5.5/10: Not Bernardo’s best day out. Like Kovacic, the game didn’t suit Bernardo’s style of play.

Antoine Semenyo-6.5/10: The Ghana international was Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player while on the pitch. He gave his all and rightfully got a standing ovation from the Vitality Stadium when he was substituted. 

Jeremy Doku-5.5/10: The Belgian winger had his moments but it just wasn’t his night. His final pass was just off and the Bournemouth defence marshalled him superbly well.

Erling Haaland-7/10: Haaland grabbed a late goal and he never gave up the fight. Unfortunately, he lacked service all night.

Substitutes.

Rayan Cherki-6/10: Cherki could not get into the game after coming off the bench.

Savinho-6/10: The Brazilian winger tried and had moments off the bench.

Phil Foden-6/10: -Like Cherki, Foden didn’t get into the game until late on.

Omar Marmoush-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.