Perfect Etihad ending for De Bruyne after vital Bournemouth victory

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Manchester City F.C.

·20 mai 2025

Perfect Etihad ending for De Bruyne after vital Bournemouth victory

Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell to the Etihad ended in the best way possible with victory over Bournemouth to move us within touching distance of Champions League qualification.

Goals from Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico ensured a 3-1 win, Cherries forward Daniel Jebbison hitting a consolation in stoppage time.

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Importantly, the result gave us a vital three points to bolster our bid for UCL football for a 15th successive season.

Marmoush scored with a rocket of a shot – a goal of the season contender, no doubt - before Bernardo doubled our advantage before the break.

In the second period there was a red card apiece for the Blues and the Cherries, Mateo Kovacic dismissed for a professional foul and Lewis Cook sent off for a late tackle on Nico, the holding midfielder having replaced De Bruyne, who was given a hero’s reception as he exited the field.

Rodri was also serenaded by the home faithful as he enjoyed a late return to action after eight long months out injured before Nico bagged his debut City goal with a fine run and finish.

Jebbison pulled one back for the Cherries but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

The result made UCL football a real possibility next season and while KDB may not be there to enjoy it as he leaves us this summer, you felt everyone of sky blue persuasion – staff, players, fans - wouldn’t let the occasion pass without the right result for our hero.

The maximum haul in front of a crowd of 52,487 moves us above Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle with a trip to Craven Cottage to come on Sunday.

The evening ended on an emotional note, with not a dry eye in the house as De Bruyne was shown video clips of teammates old and new wishing him well for the future, a montage feature of his best bits before he revealed a statue has been commissioned of him at the Etihad.

WHAT HAPPENED

There was excitement and expectation in the air as City entered the field, with club icon Kevin De Bruyne proudly leading the team out for the final time at a balmy Etihad.

Chants of ‘Ohh Kevin De Bruyne’ echoed around the ground as the fans let the departing midfield playmaker know just what they thought about him.

And when the Cherries clash kicked off, KDB wasted no time in showcasing his sublime skills, incredible though it sounds, for the final time.

He produced a sublime reverse pass for Bernardo that drew gasps from the crowd, the Portuguese ace unable to find the dangerous Omar Marmoush on the prowl in the opposition box.

The 33-year-old then produced a nifty nutmeg to play in Matheus Nunes but the lively Kepa was out quick to snuff out the chance.

It had started somewhat shakily for the Blues, Ruben Dias playing a loose pass that found Evanilson who played in Justin Kluivert, the striker sprinting forward and forcing Ederson into a solid save.

De Bruyne’s near moments of magic calmed nerves and Mateo Kovacic was unlucky to pull a dangerous strike just wide of the right-hand post shortly after.

If that was close to hitting the target, Marmoush made absolutely no mistake on 14 minutes with a rocket of a shot from 30 yards that had the home faithful salivating.

When the goal was shown again on the big screen, the fans gasped at the strike’s magnificence.

KDB was at it again on 22 minutes, clipping the ball to the back post to Erling Haaland who produced an improvised finish which Kepa was able to collect on his line.

The skipper missed an amazing chance to double our lead moments later, blasting the ball against the crossbar from close-range after a wonderful pullback from Marmoush.

De Bruyne had his head in his hands – as did boss Pep Guardiola – but the fans responded immediately to lift his spirits with another lively rendition of his White Stripes classic. That, in itself, demonstrated the affection they have for De Bruyne.

There was a big, big chance for the visitors just past the half hour mark, James Tavernier playing in Evanilson who beat Ederson with his snapshot but hit the post – a reminder of how dangerous the Cherries can be.

City certainly paid attention to that warning and we increased our advantage on 37 minutes, Ilkay Gundogan cleverly playing the ball back to Bernardo Silva who made absolutely no mistake with a clinical finish from pinpoint range.

Haaland tried to bully his way through on 54 minutes and the ball ricocheted back to KDB whose shot was blocked as supporters craved one more glorious goal from their hero.

There was a gargantuan roar just past the hour mark as returning Rodri went out to warm up, the home faithful joyous at the sight of the brilliant Ballon d’Or winner.

Kovacic saw red on 67 minutes after tugging back Evanilson, the Brazilian played through by a stray pass from Josko Gvardiol.

That prompted a change from Guardiola, Nico coming on for departing De Bruyne, the Belgian looking emotional as he waved a final goodbye to the fans before being hugged by the boss and everyone on the home bench.

City fears of being a man down were allayed six minutes later, Bournemouth captain Lewis Cook dismissed for a late tackle on Nico to level numbers.

If the home crowd were off their feet to serenade KDB as he exited the field, they were also buzzing as Rodri returned to action, the marauding midfielder enjoying a welcome late cameo.

With the clock ticking down to full-time, substitute Nico bagged a late third as the January signing scored a superb solo goal.

Daniel Jebbison pulled one back at the death but it couldn't stop a hugely valuable three points for the Blues or a fond farewell for KDB.

TEAM NEWS

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')

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, Foden, O’Reilly

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Kepa, J. Araujo (Smith 69'), Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez (Soler 83'), Cook (C), Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert (Brooks 46'), Semenyo, Evanilson (Jebbison 83')

Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Silcott-Duberry, Akinmboni, Winterburn

MANAGER VERDICT

Check out the post-match thoughts of Pep Guardiola which you'll be able to view here shortly.

KDB VERDICT

“Very emotional,” the skipper said of his feelings tonight.

“Manchester is home. It is where these little kids are born.

“I came here with my wife to live here a long time. I didn’t expect to be here for 10 years.

“We won everything. We’ve made the City and the Club bigger.

“This team tries to entertain people and win. This team works incredibly hard.

“This team will win the future with or without me. This team will have more success that’s for sure.”

WATCH: Thank You, King Kev

De Bruyne Bossed it one final time!

It felt like synchronicity that Bruce Springsteen was playing just across the road at Co-op Live at the same time Kevin De Bruyne was hitting the high notes at the Etihad on his fond farewell.

For Manchester City fans, De Bruyne is The Boss – and he showed his talents one more time on home soil in front of his adoring fans.

He'll leave behind magical memories of ‘Glory Days’, his integral role amongst Centurions, Fourmidables, Treble Winners and History Makers proudly there for all to see in the history books chronicling this meteoric modern era.

And as he drives away from the stadium for a final time this evening with the reverberating chants of ‘Oh Kevin De Bruyne’ still ringing his ears, he must surely know that this will always be his ‘Secret Garden’.

WELCOME BACK RODRI

It’s totally understandable that Kevin De Bruyne dominated the headlines before and after tonight’s Bournemouth clash.

After all, the legend is leaving his beloved City after 10 glorious years and bowed out at the Etihad in front of his adoring public.

But it’s important to note the return to action of midfield giant 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's been missed is one hell of an understatement, the central cog in the City wheel after all was voted the best player in the world just one month after he sustained his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The sight of him wearing matchday attire, sitting on the bench and then being brought on had City fans licking their lips ahead of the final game against Fulham, the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in June and the 2025/26 season as the Blues look to regain our crown.

WHAT IT MEANS

Our three-point haul moved us up into third spot in the Premier League table.

Victory on the final day at Fulham will guarantee Champions League football next season although a draw and even a defeat, with other results going our way, would also see us into the UCL.