Man City vs Bournemouth LIVE: Hosts into Champions League places in Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game

Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth: Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell tour was cut short by Mateo Kovacic’s red card but the hosts wrapped up all three points to move to third

Dean Henderson reveals six-word comment that sparked Pep Guardiola heated exchange

Manchester City’s bid to qualify for the Champions League received a boost as they gave Kevin De Bruyne the send-off he deserved in his final home game.

The hosts beat Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad to move into third in the top flight, and require only one more point to secure Champions League qualification for next season despite a largely poor campaign.

Omar Marmoush broke the deadlock in the opening stages with a moment of brilliance, curling in a screamer from nearly 30 yards out, while De Bruyne himself had the chance to double their lead but rattled the crossbar from close range in the first half.

Bernardo Silva made sure of their lead, however, as Bournemouth were penalised for a largely sluggish and uninspiring display, before substitute Nico Gonzalez - on for the departing De Bruyne - slotted home his first Premier League goal shortly before full-time.

It was a dramatic game with both sides reduced to 10 men in rapid succession, City hit first when Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a pull-back on Evanilson when the Bournemouth forward was through on goal - necessitating De Bruyne’s early exit - before Lewis Cook was also given a straight red for a studs-up challenge on substitute Nico Gonzalez. Daniel Jebbison clawed one back for the Cherries but it was too little, too late as they saw their own European hopes go up in smoke.

Relive the action with The Independent’s liveblog here:

Manchester City vs Bournemouth LIVE

• '14 GOAL! Marmoush scores stunner to send City into third as it stands [MCI 1-0 BOU]
• '25 HITS THE BAR! De Bruyne rattles crossbar with thumping effort [MCI 1-0 BOU]
• '33 HITS THE POST! Evanilson hits the woodwork as Bournemouth break [MCI 1-0 BOU]
• '38 GOAL! Silva doubles City lead as Bournemouth fail to clear lines [MCI 2-0 BOU]
• '67 RED CARD! Kovacic sent off for denying Evanilson as last man [MCI 2-0 BOU]
• '73 RED CARD! Bournemouth also reduced to 10 men after high Cook challenge [MCI 2-0 BOU]
• '89 GOAL! Gonzalez scores first Premier League goal to secure all three points

[20 May 2025 22:04 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

Kevin De Bruyne hugs his family as the Etihad prepares to give him a proper send-off.

[20 May 2025 22:00 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

There will be a light show for Kevin de Bruyne now, a guard of honour too. They will miss him. His final night included an unfortunate miss. But what a sensational player he has been; surely the best in their history.

Richard Jolly

[20 May 2025 21:57 · Flo Clifford]

FULL-TIME: Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

90+6 mins: A weird way to end that game, but ultimately it’s three points in the bag for City and a successful send-off for De Bruyne, plus a return for Rodri.

City keep their European destiny in their own hands as they move up to third, while Bournemouth’s European dreams are over.

[20 May 2025 21:56 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

90+5 mins: Too little, too late for Bournemouth, but still a goal. It’s a careless pass by City near their goal and Jebbison runs onto it. Ederson comes out to block but it just runs through his legs and bounces into the net.

[20 May 2025 21:54 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 3-0 Bournemouth

90+4 mins: Not much to see here. City have everyone camped out in their box to make sure they keep a clean sheet.

Jebbison works hard to try to keep the ball in play at the corner flag but his momentum carries him into the advertising hoardings.

[20 May 2025 21:51 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 3-0 Bournemouth

90 mins: Six minutes added on and Pep gives a couple of other players a run-out. Marmoush comes off to warm applause. He, Gundogan and Silva are off for Bobb, Doku and Grealish.

[20 May 2025 21:49 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Bournemouth

89 mins: This is delightful from Gonzalez! It’s a first Premier League goal for him as he makes a great run from deep before shimmying around Smith and bending it round him to lash home.

[20 May 2025 21:47 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 2-0 Bournemouth

87 mins: Bournemouth have a first corner of the game but Rodri jumps highest to clear it.

Brooks rounds a City man out wide on the left and pulls it back at the post, but can’t pick out a teammate and Gundogan clears.

Now Kepa has a moment of madness, coming almost to the half-way line to deal with Marmoush, and is very lucky that Zabarnyi runs back in time to deal with the oncoming ball. Can’t be doing that, mate.

[20 May 2025 21:42 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 2-0 Bournemouth

83 mins: And here he is, almost eight months after he last played... Rodri gets a standing ovation as he replaces Haaland, with the Norwegian giving him a big hug as he makes way.

Kerkez, Bournemouth’s best player so far, is replaced by Soler, while Evanilson comes off for Jebbison.

[20 May 2025 21:40 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 2-0 Bournemouth

82 mins: Marmoush takes the free-kick and goes for goal again, but it flies over the bar.

On the sidelines Rodri is getting ready to come on.