The Etihad Stadium crackled with tension and triumph on Sunday as Manchester City weathered an early scare to dispatch a fearless Bournemouth side 3–1, with Erling Haaland’s clinical brilliance once again proving decisive. The win lifts Pep Guardiola’s men back into second place, narrowing the gap at the Premier League summit to just six points — and reigniting belief in a fourth successive title charge.
Straight from kickoff, the contest was anything but predictable. Bournemouth, buoyed by their recent form, thought they had drawn first blood when Eli Kroupi tucked home inside the opening minute, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cancel celebrations. The near miss jolted City awake, sparking a high-tempo battle befitting two of the league’s most enterprising sides.
City’s breakthrough came in the 17th minute. A moment of magic from playmaker Rayan Cherki released Haaland, who burst through the defence before coolly finishing for his 12th Premier League goal of the season — a reminder of his ruthless consistency. Yet Bournemouth refused to fade. Their high-press approach forced a rare misstep from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Tyler Adams pounced to level the score with a scrappy but deserved equaliser.
The champions responded with trademark verve. Just past the half-hour mark, Cherki and Haaland combined once more, with the Frenchman threading a perfectly weighted pass for the Norwegian to restore City’s lead. Even as Bournemouth threatened through the lively Nico O’Reilly, City’s rhythm and resolve remained intact.
The second half saw Guardiola’s side wrest control decisively. On the hour mark, O’Reilly — playing his best match in blue — sealed the game by cutting in from the right and firing a low finish into the far corner, igniting celebrations around the Etihad. From then on, it was a masterclass in game management. Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol held the backline with authority, while Rodri’s late cameo — his first since injury — earned a standing ovation.
The result not only halts Bournemouth’s impressive unbeaten run but also serves notice to the rest of the league: Manchester City are refocused, refuelled
