Manchester City 3 (Erling Haaland 17′, 33′, Nico O’Reilly 60′)
Bournemouth 1 (Tyler Adams 25′)
Manchester City have beaten Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad in what was an entertaining match. When the starting lineups were announced, Pep Guardiola had made eight changes to the starting eleven that beat Swansea. Jeremy Doku, Nico and Rayan Cherki were the only three players who kept their place in the starting lineup for today’s match.
First half
Bournemouth fired an early warning shot when they had the ball in the back of the net within a minute. Jeremy Doku gave the ball away in midfield, which saw the visitors pick up the ball in a dangerous area. David Brooks was played in on the right, and he played in a quality ball across the six-yard box for Eli Kroupi to tap in at the back post. But Kroupi had strayed offside, and the goal was chalked off. But the sequence of play was a clear warning to Pep Guardiola’s side about how Andoni Iraola’s side was approaching today’s match.
After the fast start to the game, there was a good tempo to the game in the first ten minutes. Phil Foden saw a shot blocked in the fifth minute, and Bournemouth had a good counterattack snuffed out by Matheus Nunes two minutes later. Bournemouth were full of intent with their press, and City were looking good in possession when they could play through the visitors’ press.
Erling Haaland gives Manchester City the lead after a quality build-up play!!!!!!
Manchester City would take the lead in the 17th minute through Erling Haaland. City played their way through the Bournemouth half as Nico played a quality chipped ball to Rayan Cherki, who was loitering on the halfway line. Cherki flicked a header over the Bournemouth defence, which Erling Haaland charged onto from inside his own half. Haaland was clear on goal, and although Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic did get something on Haaland’s finish, there was never any doubt that Haaland would give City the lead after being played through by Rayan Cherki.
🚨🏴 HAALAND OPENS THE SCORING FOR MANCHESTER CITY!
Manchester City 1-0 Bournemouth.pic.twitter.com/mT7wIdJfUE
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) November 2, 2025
Tyler Adams equalises for Bournemouth.
Bournemouth would equalise in the 25th minute. A spell of possession from the visitors resulted in them earning a corner. Alex Scott played in a quality corner which Gianluigi Donnarumma couldn’t punch away cleanly. The rebound fell to Tyler Adams, who tapped into an empty net. Donnarumma and the City players protested for a foul on Donnarumma by David Brooks, but the goal stood. It was a poor goal for City to concede after taking an early lead.
Erling Haaland restores Manchester City’s lead!!!!
Manchester City would regain the lead in the 33rd minute. Phil Foden found Rayan Cherki in the centre of the pitch, and the French international played in Erling Haaland with a quality ball over their high defensive line. Haaland raced clear and rounded Bournemouth keeper Djorde Petrovic to tap into an empty net. It was a superb goal, and Cherki had two assists and Haaland a brace in the game’s opening 33 minutes.
🚨🏴 HAALAND GIVES MANCHESTER CITY THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAYAN CHERKI WITH THE ASSIST AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth.pic.twitter.com/3m7qiDdqmr
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) November 2, 2025
Phil Foden almost made it 3-1 to City a minute later. Jeremy Doku played Nico O’Reilly in, and O’Reilly rounded Petrovic with ease. O’Reilly’s ball was destined to find Foden for a tap-in, but some desperate Bournemouth defending denied City and Phil Foden.
Djorde Petrovic would deny Haaland a hat trick in the 36th minute. Jeremy Doku surged at the centre of the Bournemouth defence and played in Haaland on his left. Haaland tried to chip Petrovic, but the Serbian keeper denied Haaland a hat trick with a strong save.
An injury to Antoine Semenyo brought a lull to proceedings. The game had been played at lightning speed, and the break was time to catch your breath.
Rayan Cherki would see a quality free kick saved by Djordje Petrovic in the final minute of first-half stoppage time. That would be the final piece of action for the first half. The game was delicately poised at the interval, but you sensed that Bournemouth’s high defensive line could play into City’s hands in the second half.
HT: Man City 2-1 Bournemouth
Erling Haaland has now scored twice in each of Man City’s last four Premier League home games. 🤖#MCIBOU | @bet365 | #Ad pic.twitter.com/Y09PEDPFIq
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 2, 2025
Second half
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first half. Erling Haaland spooned a header over from a good position after a good cross from the left from Nico O’Reilly. Antoine Semenyo attempted to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with an outrageous effort from his own half a minute after Haaland’s header. Eli Kroupi fired into the side netting from a good position in the 50th minute to round out a busy opening five minutes to the second minute.
Gianluigi Donnarumma would make a superb save to deny Eli Kroupi in the 53rd minute. Alex Scott picked out Kroupi on the penalty spot, but his goal-bound effort was saved by Donnarumma. Bournemouth’s first two chances of the second half came from Manchester City sloppily giving away possession, which they had to tidy up as quickly as possible
Nico O’Reilly makes it 3-1 to City with a composed finish!!!!
Manchester City would take a 3-1 lead on the hour mark. Rayan Cherki found Phil Foden in midfield, and Foden played the ball across to Nico O’Reilly in a dangerous position in midfield. O’Reilly drifted into the Bournemouth area and unleashed a composed left-footed strike to beat Petrovic in the Bournemouth goal. Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden had combined well, and Nico O’Reilly did the rest to give Manchester City breathing space in the game.
🚨🏴 NICO O’REILLY MAKES IT THREE FOR MANCHESTER CITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth.pic.twitter.com/VBu4ADZNoM
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) November 2, 2025
Following Nico O’Reilly’s goal, the game entered somewhat of a lull. As the game entered the final 15 minutes Bournemouth carried a threat going forward, but they were leaving holes at the back for Manchester City to break into. Whether or not anything came from the game’s closing stages remained to be seen.
Outside of an Omar Marmoush shot that squirmed wide in the 84th minute, the remainder of the game played out without incident. At the final whistle, Manchester City had picked up three points and moved up to second on the Premier League table with an important victory.
First thoughts at the final whistle.
Pep Guardiola’s side did what they had to do against a quality Bournemouth side. They took their chances, and the creativity provided by Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki took full advantage of Bournemouth’s high defensive line. Erling Haaland bagged a brace and Nico O’Reilly capped off a good performance with a goal as City picked up an important three points. Today’s result was important, as was the manner of Manchester City’s performance.
Lastly, it was great to watch a game where the two sides played attractive football and set pieces weren’t the focus of attention. That was a refreshing change given the importance that corners, throw-ins and free kicks are playing in the Premier League this season.