Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City played out a brilliant game of football with Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, producing a terrific display to win 3-1 and displace the visitors in second place in the Premier League.

A fabulously entertaining first-half saw Erling Haaland add another two goals to his ever-growing collection, running onto two offerings from the exceptional Rayan Cherki and scoring in typical style, sandwiching a Cherries equaliser from Tyler Adams.

The second period wasn’t quite as thrill-a-minute but Nico O’Reilly’s first goal of the season was enough to make it comfortable for the hosts, which they deserved after perhaps their most free-flowing display of the campaign so far.

Bournemouth had never previously collected so much as a point from the Etihad Stadium, but that dismal record did nothing to shake their confidence as they started on the front foot, only denied a first-minute opener for Eli Junior Kroupi by the offside flag.

There seemed to be a lot of joy for City when they managed to get beyond the first line of Bournemouth’s particularly aggressive press, and after a couple of near misses where Rayan Cherki came within a whisker of picking out his striker, Haaland was eventually freed by the Frenchman’s headed through ball and he galloped the length of the visitors’ half and slotted beyond Djordje Petrovic.

The lead lasted less than ten minutes though, as Alex Scott swung a Cherries corner right onto Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the City keeper made a rare error as he miscued his punch right into the packed penalty area, and Adams was waiting to convert into the empty net.

The Blues weren’t perturbed though and were soon up the other end having massive penalty appeals waved away; Bernardo Silva’s cross struck the arm of David Brooks, but the one-time City academy player was saved by the fact the ball had diverted onto him via his knee.

And they needn’t have worried, because Haaland doesn’t need penalties to be the most clinical player in the world – glorious link-up from Phil Foden and Cherki again sent the Norwegian racing clear, and he rounded Petrovic for his 13th – yes 13th goal in 10 league games this season.

The opening period was breathless stuff and City had two massive chances to make it 3-1 in the five minutes that followed their second goal, but O’Reilly saw his shot cleared off the line by Alex Jimenez, then Haaland proved that he is human after all as Petrovic threw out an arm to deny him a first-half hat-trick.

City were definitely the better team but their lead stood at just one going into the second-half, so they needed Donnarumma to remain sharp and keep out Kroupi’s effort from the edge of the area inside the first ten minutes after the restart.

But the Blues’ dominance told on the hour mark, Cherki and Foden again waltzing between the Bournemouth lines to give O’Reilly time and space on the edge of the box, with the 20-year-old picking his moment perfectly to drive into the bottom corner.

City deserve massive credit for a performance in which they nullified, dominated and at times threatened to take apart one of the most in-form teams in the league this term, and will be delighted that victory takes them back to second spot and reigns Arsenal’s lead back in to six points – here’s how we rated the City players in their crucial win over Bournemouth!

Starting XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 6.5

Committed the first glaring error of his Manchester City career to hand Bournemouth their equaliser. A decent stop from Kroupi and some routine claims were all that were asked of him otherwise.

Matheus Nunes – 8

Currently playing a level higher than at any previous stage of his time in Manchester. A bundle of energy going both ways on the right flank.

Ruben Dias – 7.5

Commanded the box with authority on the rare occasion Bournemouth managed to sustain attacking spells, clearing anything within his reach.

Josko Gvardiol – 7.5

Ably drifted between his native centre-back berth and wide on the left to cover for O’Reilly’s forward surges and provide passing options.

Nico O’Reilly – 8

Made good use of the wide spaces afforded to him when City switched the play his way, advancing the ball and making up for his first-half miss with a great strike for the third goal.

Nico Gonzalez – 8.5

Mini Rodri at it again. Played against arguably the best pressing side in the Premier League and hardly ever lost the ball, swivelling and pirouetting out of countless tight spots.

Bernardo Silva – 7

Strangely sloppy in possession at times, but showed his captaincy credentials again to drop into whatever positions he needed to to maintain control and press without stopping.

Phil Foden – 8.5

He and Cherki dovetailed delightfully, exchanging passes in advanced zones and carving out chances with regularity. Earned an assist he’s been missing lately for O’Reilly.

Rayan Cherki – 9

The City faithful are really going to take to this guy. Looked totally in the mood even before his assists to Haaland, pulling all the strings and, perhaps even more pleasingly for Pep Guardiola, knowing exactly when to slow the tempo and when to speed it up.

Erling Haaland – 9 (POTM)

Just exceptional. Diakite and Senesi couldn’t live with his pace, power and the best attacking movement in world football, all of which he put to use to score twice and play a complete centre-forward game.

Jeremy Doku – 7.5

Looked at his best when drifting infield and creating a central creative axis alongside Foden and Cherki. Didn’t quite have his usual one-on-one success from wide against Jimenez, surprisingly.

Substitutes

Tijjani Reijnders – 6.5

Slotted into the midfield control and threatened in the final third.

Savinho – 6

Couldn’t make the most of his chances to run at his man.

Omar Marmoush – N/A

Rayan Ait-Nouri – N/A

Rodri – N/A