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 20:16 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Bournemouth

14 mins: Marmoush breaks the deadlock! The noise ratchets up every time City press forward but this almost takes the Etihad by surprise - he drifts into the centre of the area and curls a magnificent effort, with incredible spin, power and precision, right into the top corner from 30 yards out. Kepa leaps to it but has no chance. That was a beauty.

[20 May 2025 20:13 · Flo Clifford]

Bournemouth can look a threat on the counter

An odd mix of a Manchester City team tonight with fast, physical players in defence and four thirty-something midfielders, including De Bruyne, who is playing off the right wing. It means Bournemouth can look a threat on the counter-attack.

Richard Jolly

[20 May 2025 20:12 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth

10 mins: De Bruyne has been busy so far. He threads a pass through to Nunes, who gets his foot to it, but Kepa - after a moment of hesitation - rushes off his line to smother.

[20 May 2025 20:09 · Flo Clifford]

Chance! Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth

8 mins: Silva has a great chance but can’t find a teammate for a pull-back. Bournemouth immediately counter, but Tavernier takes too long to take a touch on the edge of the City box and is robbed.

Now City recycle a move set up by De Bruyne; Zabarnyi heads off his cross but it winds into the path of Kovacic, who shoots and fires narrowly wide.

[20 May 2025 20:06 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth

6 mins: Ruben Dias is caught napping and Kluivert darts round him - but does he slip? It looks like he loses his footing and his shot is tamely fired at Ederson.

City counter and De Bruyne does what he does best, turning round a lovely ball on the spin for Silva. Silva is marked closely by Kerkez and lays it off on the edge of the area but the move loses steam and Kepa collects.

[20 May 2025 20:03 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 0-0 Bournemouth

2 mins: Some early pressing by Bournemouth; Kerkez is given lots of space down the left and lays the ball off for Tavernier, but no-one can meet his cross.

Semenyo lobs in the resulting throw-in but it’s claimed easily by Ederson.

[20 May 2025 20:01 · Flo Clifford]

KICK-OFF: Manchester City vs Bournemouth

We’re underway!

[20 May 2025 19:59 · Flo Clifford]

Kevin de Bruyne leads City out

Huge cheers greet Kevin de Bruyne’s face as it’s flashed up on the big screens, and the fans unfurl a massive banner reading ‘king’.

Moments from kickoff in his last home game for the side.

[20 May 2025 19:56 · Flo Clifford]

Team news

Man City XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Marmoush, Haaland.

Substitutes: Ortega, Ake, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Rodri, Foden, Bobb, O'Reilly

Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Araujo, Zabaryni, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Tavernier, Semenyo, Kluivert, Evanilson.

Substitutes: Dennis, Senesi, Smith, Soler, Akinmboni, Brooks, Winterburn, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry.

[20 May 2025 19:53 · Flo Clifford]

'Welcome returns' for City

Yesterday, Pep Guardiola did not guarantee that Kevin de Bruyne would start his final game at the Etihad. Perhaps it was a bit of kidology but he does. There are a few welcome returns in what is a huge game for City: Mateo Kovacic, who missed the FA Cup final, is back in the team, Rodri, after an eight-month absence, is back on the bench. And an old City favourite is here tonight, too, in Pablo Zabaleta.

Richard Jolly