MANCHESTER - Manchester City secured a vital 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, climbing to third in the Premier League and marking an emotional farewell for Kevin De Bruyne in his final home appearance at the Etihad Stadium.
City, now on 68 points with one match remaining, leapfrogged Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa in the intense race for Champions League qualification. Bournemouth, meanwhile, sit 11th and are officially out of European contention. The match started with high intensity as City dominated early possession. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a thunderous 30-yard strike that soared into the top-left corner. Bernardo Silva doubled the lead in the 38th minute, converting Ilkay Gundogan’s cutback at the near post.
Both teams were reduced to 10 men in the second half—City’s Mateo Kovacic was sent off in the 67th minute for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, and Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook followed six minutes later for a reckless challenge. Nico Gonzalez sealed the win in the 89th with a solo effort, while Bournemouth’s Daniel Jebbison netted a late consolation after capitalizing on a defensive error.
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The night, however, belonged to Kevin De Bruyne. Playing his final home game after a legendary 10-year spell with City, the Belgian maestro was visibly emotional. Despite missing a golden opportunity in the first half—smashing Marmoush’s cross off the underside of the bar—he left the field in the 69th minute to a standing ovation.
De Bruyne was embraced by teammates and honored post-match with a guard of honour, accompanied by his family as fans chanted his name and waved “King Kev” banners. The club confirmed it will erect a statue of him outside the Etihad, cementing his legacy. “It feels a bit weird. It’s been an unbelievable ride,” De Bruyne said. “To have almost 50,000 people waiting to say goodbye—it’s indescribable. I’ve loved every minute of creating something special here.”
The 33-year-old, who has lifted 16 trophies with City, including six league titles and the 2023 Champions League, admitted he was surprised not to receive a contract extension. Still, he believes he can continue playing in the Premier League. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also made his return after eight months out with injury, entering as a late substitute to raucous applause.
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