Manchester City took a big step toward securing their place in next season’s Champions League, and Kevin De Bruyne said goodbye to the home fans, with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday.
WATCH — Manchester City vs Bournemouth full match replay
De Bruyne is set to depart Man City this summer after a decade of brilliance that saw the Belgian lift 14 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a record-breaking four straight from 2021 to 2024. With City still needing a result on the final day of the season to finish in the top-five, De Bruyne should still feature against Fulham on Sunday (11 am ET), whereas players like Jamie Vardy and Joel Ward made their final club appearances at home in matchweek 37.
Omar Marmoush opened the scoring with what might just go down as the goal of the season in the 14th minute — a swerving, dipping blast from nearly 35 yards out that pinged off the inside of the top corner and in for his 7th PL goal since signing for Man City in January. Bernardo Silva added City’s second in the 38th minute after Ilkay Gundogan played a clever cut-back pass to the top of the six-yard box and the Portuguese playmaker swept it into the bottom corner.
Nico Gonzalez beat the Bournemouth defense on his own and stuck an arrow in the top corner right at the end of regular time to make it 3-0, but Man City couldn’t protect the clean sheet as Daniel Jebbison got in behind and scored from a fortuitous deflection in stoppage.
Rodri returns from ACL injury earlier this season
Man City fans also said hello and welcome back to Rodri, who tore his ACL back in September but completed his rehab before season’s end and made his return off the bench in the 83rd minute. Rodri’s injury was, for all intents and purposes, the beginning of the end of City’s four-year title reign as they hit an unthinkable rough patch shortly thereafter and won just one of nine PL games from Nov. 2 to Boxing Day. The 28-year-old is expected to use this summer’s Club World Cup to regain fitness and sharpness ahead of the new PL season in August.
Player ratings – Manchester City vs Bournemouth
What’s next?
- Fulham vs Manchester City — Sunday, 11 am ET
- Bournemouth vs Leicester — Sunday, 11 am ET
Manchester City vs Bournemouth live updates – by Andy Edwards
Manchester City vs Bournemouth final score: 3-1
Goalscorers: Omar Marmoush (14′), Bernardo Silva (38′), Nico Gonzalez (89′), Daniel Jebbison (90’+5)
GOAL! Man City 3-1 Bournemouth: Jebbison steals a late consolation (90’+5)
Jebbison scores consolation goal against Man City
A defensive breakdown allows Daniel Jebbison to pull one back for Bournemouth and deny Ederson a clean sheet for Manchester City at the Etihad.
GOAL! Man City 3-0 Bournemouth: Gonzalez weaves his way in for a brilliant first PL goal (89′)
Gonzalez slots home Man City’s third v. Cherries
A few minutes after taking a hard challenge from Lewis Cook, Nico Gonzalez bounces back to score his first goal for Manchester City to make it 3-0 for his side against Bournemouth at the Etihad.
RED CARD! Lewis Cook flies in high on Nico Gonzalez (73′)
Cook sent off for dangerous challenge against City
Lewis Cook receives a straight-red card following a dangerous tackle on Nico Gonzalez to make Bournemouth go down to 10 men.
DE BRUYNE OFF! Etihad Stadium on its feet as Kevin De Bruyne comes off for the last time (69′)
The end of an era. Kevin De Bruyne exits the pitch for the final time in his glittering career at the Etihad. 👏 pic.twitter.com/81VvTBdArG
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 20, 2025
RED CARD! Kovacic sent off for dragging down Evanilson with nothing but green grass in front of him (67′)
Kovacic receives straight red card v. Bournemouth
Mateo Kovacic receives a straight-red card after an errant pass gave Bournemouth a free look on goal before the Croatian international dragged down Evanilson.
GOAL! Man City 2-0 Bournemouth: Gundogan plays a beautiful cut-back to Bernardo (38′)
Silva doubles Man City’s lead over Bournemouth
Manchester City are flying as Bernardo Silva drills his effort into the back of the net from close range to give his side a 2-0 lead over the Cherries at the Etihad.
CROSSBAR! De Bruyne smashes the crossbar with an open net in front of him (25′)
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Bournemouth: Marmoush lets one fly from long range (14′)
Marmoush’s screamer gives City lead v. Bournemouth
Omar Marmoush makes a late submission for the goal of the season with a spectacular strike from distance to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead against Bournemouth at the Etihad.
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson – Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol – Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne – Bernardo, Marmoush, Haaland
Bournemouth starting lineup
Arrizabalaga – Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez – Adams, Cook, Kluivert – Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson
How to watch Manchester City vs Bournemouth live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (May 20)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Pep Guardiola’s side lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Crystal Palace on Saturday as they’ll finish a season trophyless for the first time since Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge. City are now fully-focused on qualifying for the Champions League and a win against Bournemouth and Fulham in their final two games would guarantee qualification and four points is likely to be enough. This will also be Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game as a Man City player and will be an emotional occasion for the legendary Belgian playmaker.
Manchester City fans show love to their midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne, ahead of his final home match for the club. 🩵 pic.twitter.com/jp3if3aurD
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 20, 2025
MORE — Which Premier League teams can qualify for Europe?
Bournemouth remain in the hunt for an eighth-place finish which could still qualify them for Europe next season. Andoni Iraola’s side lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa last time out and they have come off the rails in the final few months of the season. Still, they’re having a record-breaking campaign and the Cherries press high and look to spring counters and those are the kind of teams City have really struggled against this season.
Manchester City team news, focus
It will be intriguing to see who Guardiola rotates in and out for this one, with the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes and Ederson all likely to come in. Will Kevin de Bruyne start? He could come off the bench as he played the full 90 minutes against Palace on Saturday. It’s all about getting the job done for City and the last thing they need is a shock defeat at home to Bournemouth to put them under serious pressure to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the season. They have failed to score in each of their last two outings. Surely it won’t happen for a third game on the trot?
OUT: Oscar Bobb (thigh), John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL – MORE), Nathan Ake (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Mateo Kovacic (other)
Bournemouth team news, focus
The Cherries have a very settled lineup and with young center back Dean Huijsen signing for Real Madrid this week, it will be intriguing to see if he plays in Bournemouth’s final two games of the season. Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez have both been linked with big moves away this summer, and Iraola will have a real fight on his hands to keep this squad together. That is a huge pat on the back for the job he has done.
OUT: Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), Ryan Christie (groin), Enes Unal (knee), Dango Ouattara (groin), Alex Scott (jaw)
Manchester City vs Bournemouth prediction
This is going to be nervous for City and it will be really interesting to see how they respond to the FA Cup final defeat. They’ll find a way, somehow, to win and De Bruyne will probably be involved in the key moment. Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth.
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