Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell to the Etihad resulted in the easiest way potential with victory over Bournemouth to maneuver us inside touching distance of Champions League qualification.
Targets from Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico ensured a 3-1 win, Cherries ahead Daniel Jebbison hitting a comfort in stoppage time.
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Importantly, the outcome gave us an important three factors to bolster our bid for UCL soccer for a fifteenth successive season.
Marmoush scored with a rocket of a shot – a objective of the season contender, little doubt – earlier than Bernardo doubled our benefit earlier than the break.
Within the second interval there was a crimson card apiece for the Blues and the Cherries, Mateo Kovacic dismissed for knowledgeable foul and Lewis Cook dinner despatched off for a late deal with on Nico, the holding midfielder having changed De Bruyne, who was given a hero’s reception as he exited the sphere.
Rodri was additionally serenaded by the house trustworthy as he loved a late return to motion after eight lengthy months out injured earlier than Nico bagged his debut Metropolis objective with a tremendous run and end.
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Jebbison pulled one again for the Cherries but it surely was too little, too late for the guests.
The outcome made UCL soccer an actual chance subsequent season and whereas KDB might not be there to take pleasure in it as he leaves us this summer time, you felt everybody of sky blue persuasion – workers, gamers, followers – wouldn’t let the event go with out the fitting outcome for our hero.
The utmost haul in entrance of a crowd of 52,487 strikes us above Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle with a visit to Craven Cottage to come back on Sunday.
The night ended on an emotional word, with not a dry eye in the home as De Bruyne was proven video clips of teammates outdated and new wishing him effectively for the long run, a montage characteristic of his finest bits earlier than he revealed a statue has been commissioned of him on the Etihad.
WHAT HAPPENED
There was pleasure and expectation within the air as Metropolis entered the sphere, with membership icon Kevin De Bruyne proudly main the staff out for the ultimate time at a balmy Etihad.
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Chants of ‘Ohh Kevin De Bruyne’ echoed across the floor because the followers let the departing midfield playmaker know simply what they considered him.
And when the Cherries conflict kicked off, KDB wasted no time in showcasing his elegant abilities, unbelievable although it sounds, for the ultimate time.
He produced a elegant reverse go for Bernardo that drew gasps from the group, the Portuguese ace unable to search out the harmful Omar Marmoush on the prowl within the opposition field.
The 33-year-old then produced a nifty nutmeg to play in Matheus Nunes however the energetic Kepa was out fast to snuff out the possibility.
It had began considerably shakily for the Blues, Ruben Dias taking part in a free go that discovered Evanilson who performed in Justin Kluivert, the striker sprinting ahead and forcing Ederson right into a strong save.
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De Bruyne’s close to moments of magic calmed nerves and Mateo Kovacic was unfortunate to drag a harmful strike simply vast of the right-hand publish shortly after.
If that was near hitting the goal, Marmoush made completely no mistake on 14 minutes with a rocket of a shot from 30 yards that had the house trustworthy salivating.
When the objective was proven once more on the large display screen, the followers gasped on the strike’s magnificence.
KDB was at it once more on 22 minutes, clipping the ball to the again publish to Erling Haaland who produced an improvised end which Kepa was capable of accumulate on his line.
The skipper missed a tremendous probability to double our lead moments later, blasting the ball in opposition to the crossbar from close-range after a beautiful pullback from Marmoush.
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De Bruyne had his head in his palms – as did boss Pep Guardiola – however the followers responded instantly to raise his spirits with one other energetic rendition of his White Stripes traditional. That, in itself, demonstrated the love they’ve for De Bruyne.
There was an enormous, massive probability for the guests simply previous the half hour mark, James Tavernier taking part in in Evanilson who beat Ederson together with his snapshot however hit the publish – a reminder of how harmful the Cherries may be.
Metropolis actually paid consideration to that warning and we elevated our benefit on 37 minutes, Ilkay Gundogan cleverly taking part in the ball again to Bernardo Silva who made completely no mistake with a medical end from pinpoint vary.
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Haaland tried to bully his means by way of on 54 minutes and the ball ricocheted again to KDB whose shot was blocked as supporters craved yet another wonderful objective from their hero.
There was a gargantuan roar simply previous the hour mark as returning Rodri went out to heat up, the house trustworthy joyous on the sight of the good Ballon d’Or winner.
Kovacic noticed crimson on 67 minutes after tugging again Evanilson, the Brazilian performed by way of by a stray go from Josko Gvardiol.
That prompted a change from Guardiola, Nico approaching for departing De Bruyne, the Belgian trying emotional as he waved a last goodbye to the followers earlier than being hugged by the boss and everybody on the house bench.
Metropolis fears of being a person down have been allayed six minutes later, Bournemouth captain Lewis Cook dinner dismissed for a late deal with on Nico to stage numbers.
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If the house crowd have been off their ft to serenade KDB as he exited the sphere, they have been additionally buzzing as Rodri returned to motion, the marauding midfielder having fun with a welcome late cameo.
With the clock ticking all the way down to full-time, substitute Nico bagged a late third because the January signing scored an outstanding solo objective.
Daniel Jebbison pulled one again on the dying but it surely could not cease a massively priceless three factors for the Blues or a fond farewell for KDB.
CITY XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan (Doku 90 + 2), De Bruyne (C) (Nico 69), Bernardo, Marmoush (Bobb 90 + 1), Haaland (Rodri 83′)
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Subs: Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, Foden, O’Reilly
BOURNEMOUTH XI: Kepa, J. Araujo (Smith 69′), Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez (Soler 83′), Cook dinner (C), Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert (Brooks 46′), Semenyo, Evanilson (Jebbison 83′)
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Silcott-Duberry, Akinmboni, Winterburn
Take a look at the post-match ideas of Pep Guardiola which you’ll view right here shortly.
“Very emotional,” the skipper mentioned of his emotions tonight.
“Manchester is residence. It’s the place these little youngsters are born.
“I got here right here with my spouse to dwell right here a very long time. I didn’t anticipate to be right here for 10 years.
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“We gained every part. We’ve made the Metropolis and the Membership larger.
“This staff tries to entertain folks and win. This staff works extremely onerous.
“This staff will win the long run with or with out me. This staff could have extra success that’s for certain.”
De Bruyne Bossed it one last time!
It felt like synchronicity that Bruce Springsteen was taking part in simply throughout the street at Co-op Stay on the similar time Kevin De Bruyne was hitting the excessive notes on the Etihad on his fond farewell.
For Manchester Metropolis followers, De Bruyne is The Boss – and he confirmed his abilities yet another time on residence soil in entrance of his adoring followers.
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He’ll go away behind magical reminiscences of ‘Glory Days’, his integral function amongst Centurions, Fourmidables, Treble Winners and Historical past Makers proudly there for all to see within the historical past books chronicling this meteoric trendy period.
And as he drives away from the stadium for a last time this night with the reverberating chants of ‘Oh Kevin De Bruyne’ nonetheless ringing his ears, he should certainly know that this can at all times be his ‘Secret Backyard’.
It’s completely comprehensible that Kevin De Bruyne dominated the headlines earlier than and after tonight’s Bournemouth conflict.
In spite of everything, the legend is leaving his beloved Metropolis after 10 wonderful years and bowed out on the Etihad in entrance of his adoring public.
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Nevertheless it’s necessary to notice the return to motion of midfield large Rodri after eight months out.
The Ballon d’Or winner has been absent since September 2024’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
To say he is been missed is one hell of an understatement, the central cog within the Metropolis wheel in spite of everything was voted one of the best participant on the earth only one month after he sustained his anterior cruciate ligament damage.
The sight of him sporting matchday apparel, sitting on the bench after which being introduced on had Metropolis followers licking their lips forward of the ultimate recreation in opposition to Fulham, the upcoming FIFA Membership World Cup in June and the 2025/26 season because the Blues look to regain our crown.
WHAT IT MEANS
Our three-point haul moved us up into third spot within the Premier League desk.
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Victory on the ultimate day at Fulham will assure Champions League soccer subsequent season though a draw and even a defeat, with different outcomes going our means, would additionally see us into the UCL.
WHAT NEXT
Our last recreation of the 2024/25 season is an away conflict with Fulham.
We tackle Marco Silva’s Cottagers on Sunday with a 16:00 (UK) kick-off.
The corresponding fixture right here on the Etihad completed 3-2, Mateo Kovacic (2) and Jeremy Doku bagging our targets.