Man City Beat Bournemouth as De Bruyne Bows Out and Red Cards Fly | OneFootball

Man City Sign Off at the Etihad with a Win but Bournemouth’s Bubble Bursts

De Bruyne’s Emotional Farewell Highlights Mixed Season

Kevin de Bruyne’s final Etihad outing for Manchester City was meant to be a celebration, and in part it was. A 3-1 win over Bournemouth at least steadied a turbulent season, though it did little to mask the disappointments that have defined this campaign. De Bruyne, emblematic of City’s most gilded era, leaves behind a team in transition—still formidable, still feared, but no longer flawless.

The Belgian maestro was central to the night, captaining the side and almost scoring on his 142nd and final home league appearance. “He somehow scooped his effort on to the crossbar,” the moment inexplicably falling short of the storybook farewell many had hoped for. His substitution on 69 minutes brought a standing ovation and a hug from Erling Haaland, a nod of gratitude to a player whose influence will linger long after he has gone.

Guardiola’s Side Secure Crucial Points

City’s season, by their own immense standards, has underwhelmed. Out of the Champions League prematurely, stunned by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, and watching the Premier League title slip away, this was not the campaign Guardiola envisioned. Even he admitted it, describing the year as one that “has not been good enough.”

Yet this win over Bournemouth moves City to third in the Premier League, and a point at Fulham on the final day will secure Champions League football for next season. That, at least, provides a sliver of redemption.

There was no shortage of drama. Omar Marmoush’s outrageous 30-yard strike—his eighth goal since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt—set the tone early. Bernardo Silva tapped in a second, while substitute Nico Gonzalez added a third with his first City goal. Evanilson rattled the post as City’s defensive frailty flickered again, but Dan Jebbison’s late goal for Bournemouth was purely cosmetic.

Red Cards and Regrets for Both Sides

The contest wasn’t without edge. Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a cynical tug on Evanilson as he raced through on goal. Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook followed, dismissed for a reckless lunge on Gonzalez. By the end, both teams were down to 10 men.

It might have briefly seemed like an opportunity for Bournemouth, but they never looked capable of seizing it. Even with City’s numerical disadvantage, the visitors lacked conviction. Their challenge faded just as quickly as their European dreams.

Bournemouth’s Promising Season Fizzles Out

Andoni Iraola’s side have exceeded expectations this season, flirting with a European spot and winning admirers for their attacking verve. But they’ve hit the woodwork more than any other side in the league—23 times now—and those inches have made all the difference.

For now, they sit 11th, five points behind eighth-placed Brighton, having won just once in five. Talent is there, no doubt. But at the Etihad, on a night that belonged to a departing great, Bournemouth were reminded that progress in the Premier League is as precarious as it is precious.