Phil Foden scored and Manchester City withstood a vibrant Bournemouth to win 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
City controlled the first half but was uncomfortable for most of the second 45, as Andoni Iraola’s Cherries appeared on path to at least one famous point.
WATCH BOURNEMOUTH vs MANCHESTER CITY FULL MATCH REPLAY
Andoni Iraola’s Cherries are enduring a second dry patch of the season with just three points — all draws — in seven matches dating back to New Year’s Eve, but almost nothing from Saturday’s affair resembled a team in trouble.
City’s three points put them a point behind Liverpool. They’ll finish the weekend second regardless of how Arsenal fare versus Newcastle.
Bournemouth sit 14th with 28 points, eight above the bottom three.
Man City’s ‘slump’ is a winning one
Every team goes through down periods, as poor performances are rarely one-offs. The best teams make sure they still get the points they need to sustain their season’s goals.
City’s scored just three times in three matches over the last eight days since coming back from Copenhagen. Pep Guardiola’s men drew Chelsea 1-1. and then beat Brentford and Bournemouth 1-0 to take seven points from this ‘downturn.’
For all of those close results, consider that Man City allowed more than a single xG only in the Chelsea game. They still posted a 2.78-1.83 advantage in that game, then a 2.54-0.50 xG score versus Brentford, and even Saturday were nearly a full xG better than the Cherries at 1.80-0.93.
Part of that is the good fortune that arrives with having those dates not against Liverpool, Spurs, or Arsenal, but Man City worked through their issues and then held firm against a Bournemouth team that believed they’d get an earned equalizer. That’s good for both clubs.
What’s next?
Man City go to Luton at 3pm ET Tuesday for an FA Cup fifth round match, then host Manchester United at 10:30pm Sunday, March 3.
The Cherries host Leicester City at 2:30pm Tuesday in the FA Cup before before visiting Burnley at 8am Sunday, March 3.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City: How to watch live, stream link, TV channel, start time
Kickoff: 12:30 pm ET, Saturday
TV Channel: NBC
Online: Stream on NBC.com and Peacock Premium
Bournemouth vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Bournemouth vs Manchester City final score: 0-1
Goal: Foden (24')
Bournemouth vs Manchester City player ratings (fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Manchester City player ratings (fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Manchester City player ratings (fotmob.com)
Save, block deny deadlock
We’re nearly level in the 67th minute.
Ederson is almost completely in his goal but his hands are not as they parry a shot that doesn’t cross the line.
Then the rebound is fired into the mess and blocked by a prone City body.
Cherries reach break within one — Bournemouth vs Man City halftime analysis
The hosts are in this despite 34% of the ball, four attempts, and just 0.13 xG.
City’s been thrice denied by Neto, and Foden is responsible for four of City’s nine shot attempts.
Andoni Iraola will try to make some tweaks at the break.
Foden deposits rebound — Bournemouth 0-1 Man City (24th minute)
Erling Haaland wins a 50-50 with Marcos Senesi and snaps a shot on Norberto Neto, who saves it directly onto the path of Phil Foden.
No. 47 doesn’t miss, and Man City’s in front.
Foden deserved an assist earlier for a first-touch pass to Haaland that led to a shot wide of the goal. Now he’s on the scoresheet.
Bournemouth lineup
Our team for #BOUMCI 👇 pic.twitter.com/hxTtJjcvyM
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) February 24, 2024
Manchester City lineup
Your City side for #BOUMCI 💪
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 24, 2024
XI | Ederson, Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, Nunes, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Grealish, Doku, De Bruyne, Gomez, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/7dPdE4ea8W
Bournemouth focus, team news
Dominic Solanke’s 14 goals have him third in the Premier League, just three behind Erling Haaland. He’ll have to a solid day and so will star back Marcos Senesi.
OUT: Max Aarons (thigh), Tyler Adams (hamstring - out until February), Ryan Fredericks (calf), James Hill (ankle), Philip Billing (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Romain Faivre (illness)
Manchester City focus, team news
Man City eyes have been trained on Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. The Norwegian leads the Premier League in goals — again — while Kevin De Bruyne is quickly making up for missed time with a handful of assists since returning to the pitch.
OUT: Jack Grealish (leg), Josko Gvardiol (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Kevin De Bruyne (undisclosed)