Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth: Pep Guardiola’s side back to winning ways as Rodri returns and De Bruyne bids farewell to Etihad faithful
It only took 14 minutes for Omar Marmoush to put Manchester City in front with a sensational strike at the Etihad. It was much closer, looped slightly more, and was perhaps a tad slower, but it had all the vibes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary strike for Manchester United against Porto in 2009.
The fans roared: apology accepted. Just days after a dismal FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace where the Egyptian missed a penalty that could have brought his side level, the last thing Pep Guardiola’s men needed was a talented and better rested Bournemouth side to cause them problems. Marmoush’s goal cancelled that narrative early enough and set a different tone.
But there were other subplots to the story. The evening was charged with sentiment as Kevin De Bruyne featured in his 142nd and final league match at the Etihad. The Belgian assist-king, one of City’s greatest ever players, was given a rousing standing ovation when he was substituted in the 69th minute, no less than deserved by a man who has helped deliver a cabinet full of silverware during his ten-year stay.
Alongside De Bruyne’s farewell came the long-awaited return of midfield general Rodri, who made his comeback after missing most of the season due to a serious knee injury. The Spaniard started on the bench and came on with seven minutes to go, meeting a thunderous applause from the home fans.
Just minutes after Marmoush’s opener, De Bruyne had a golden chance to mark his last Etihad appearance with a goal. But unmarked and with an open net in front of him, the Belgian uncharacteristically managed to scoop the ball onto the crossbar somehow, a miss that stunned even the Bournemouth defenders.
It almost hurt his side, with Bournemouth coming close to an equaliser shortly after at the other end. But Pep Guardiola’s side were secure when Bernardo Silva added a second with a smart finish from close range, and in the second half substitute Nico Gonzalez put the result beyond doubt with a manoeuvring run and clever strike.
City’s defence wobbled at times and Bournemouth nearly capitalised when Evanilson rattled the post in a rare first-half foray. It was caught gaping after the hour mark and Mateo Kovacic was forced into a last-man foul after Evanilson again had run through, with the Croat consequently forced to take an early shower. Then in stoppage time, Matheus Nunez played a poor pass towards goal and Dan Jebbison pounced on it to pull one back for the visitors. But it was too little too late.
