Man City 3-1 Bournemouth Player Ratings: Haaland Rated 8.5/10 as His Brace Seals Comfortable 3-1 Victory

While many believed Bournemouth would take all three points from the fixture, Pep Guardiola and his goal machine, Erling Haaland, had other plans. Bournemouth showed glimpses of strength early on, but Manchester City dominated from the first whistle to the last. The victory not only reaffirmed City’s title intent but also opened the door for other teams to narrow the gap with table-toppers Arsenal.

It was none other than goal machine Erling Haaland who broke the deadlock. A swift counter-attack caught AFC Bournemouth completely off guard. From our perspective, it felt like the floodgates would open then. However, Bournemouth showed surprising spirit and fought back.

Their resilience paid off with an equalizer from Tyler Adams after a corner. This goal stunned the home crowd for a moment. But City's immense quality eventually shone through. Haaland grabbed his second just before halftime with a clinical finish that really broke Bournemouth's spirit. The second half saw City extend their lead through a surprising goal from Nico O'Reilly, sealing a deserved 3-1 victory in this thrilling encounter.

Here are Man City Vs Bournemouth Player Ratings

Man City Player Ratings vs Bournemouth

Here are Man City Player Ratings vs Bournemouth

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 5.5: A very mixed bag from the Italian keeper. He made a couple of decent saves to keep Bournemouth at bay. However, his performance was marred by a significant error. This mistake led directly to the opponent's goal. He also picked up a needless yellow card. It was a shaky display that won't fill the defense with confidence.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.5: A typically solid, if unspectacular, outing for Dias. He was composed at the back, making key interceptions and clearances. He wasn't overly tested for large parts of the game. What stood out to us was his positional awareness. A standard day at the office for the Portuguese international.

Josko Gvardiol - 6.0: Not the best performance we've seen from Gvardiol. He looked a bit clumsy at times and committed a needless foul. He was generally okay but didn't impose himself on the game. There were a few moments of miscommunication at the back. He'll want to improve on this showing.

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A difficult evening for Nunes playing in a defensive role. He seemed slightly off the pace throughout. What we noticed was his high number of possessions lost, 15 in total. He struggled to contain the opposition's runs. It was a performance that highlighted his discomfort in the position.

Nico O'Reilly - 8.0: What a surprising performance from the youngster. To get on the scoresheet from a defensive position was incredible. He showed great attacking instinct for his goal. Defensively, he was also solid and made several clearances. A breakout game that he'll remember for a long time.

Midfielders

Rayan Cherki - 8.0: A masterclass in creativity from Cherki. He was the architect of City's attack for much of the game. He provided two brilliant assists for Haaland's opener and another chance. He also created two big chances, constantly probing the defense. From our perspective, he was a joy to watch with the ball at his feet.

Jérémy Doku - 7.5: Absolutely electric on the wing. Doku was a nightmare for the Bournemouth defense. His five successful dribbles tell the story of his direct and aggressive approach. He created four chances for his teammates. His final product could have been better, but he was a constant source of danger.

Nico González - 6.5: A quiet but effective game in the middle of the park. He kept the play ticking over with a high pass completion rate. He did his defensive duties diligently, making tackles and interceptions. He didn't offer much going forward, but provided a stable base for the creative players to shine. A solid, understated performance.

Bernardo Silva - 6.5: The captain put in a tireless shift as always. He covered a lot of ground and worked hard for the team. However, we didn't see his usual creative spark. He was tidy in possession but failed to unlock the defense. A decent performance but we expect more from a player of his quality.

Phil Foden - 7.5: Another impressive display from Foden. He grabbed an assist for O'Reilly's goal and was always involved. He created three chances and his link-up play was excellent. His movement off the ball caused numerous problems. He also drew several fouls, showing how much of a threat he was.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 8.5: The man of the match, without a doubt. Two clinical finishes demonstrated his world-class ability. His first goal was a perfect example of his predatory instincts. He was a constant handful for the defenders. Despite missing one big chance, his contribution was decisive. He is simply a goal machine, and today was no different.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 7.5: He set his team up to dominate and they delivered. His tactics allowed creative players like Cherki and Doku to flourish. The team looked dangerous every time they went forward. The defensive lapse for the goal was a minor blemish. Overall, a comfortable win and a job well done.

Bournemouth Player Ratings vs Man City

Here are Bournemouth Player Ratings vs Man City

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic - 6.0: A tough afternoon for the keeper. He was left exposed by his defense for the three goals. He did make a few good saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse. His distribution was okay under pressure. It's hard to fault him too much on a day like this. He did what he could.

Defenders

Adrien Truffert - 6.0: He had a very difficult time against City's dynamic wingers. He worked hard and made some important tackles. However, he was often beaten for pace. The yellow card he received was a result of his struggles. He never gave up, which we have to credit him for.

Marcos Senesi - 5.5: A mixed performance from the central defender. He made a crucial last-man tackle which was a highlight. On the downside, he was part of a defense that looked disjointed. He struggled with the movement of Haaland. He also lost possession in dangerous areas a few times.

Bafodé Diakité - 6.0: He showed excellent passing accuracy from the back. He tried to build play from deep. Defensively, however, he found it tough going. He was caught out of position on a couple of occasions. He won a decent number of his duels but it wasn't enough.

Álex Jiménez - 5.0: A day to forget for the fullback. He was dribbled past four times, a statistic that tells its own story. He was a clear target for City's attack. He tried to get forward but offered little. It was no surprise to see him substituted after an hour.

Midfielders

David Brooks - 6.5: As captain, he led by example with a battling performance. He looked lively and created a good chance for his team. His work rate was commendable. He tried to make things happen in a difficult game. A solid effort in a losing cause.

Alex Scott - 6.0: He was busy in midfield but ultimately overwhelmed. He struggled to get on the ball and dictate play. The game largely passed him by. From our perspective, he needed to be more assertive. A learning experience for the young midfielder.

Tyler Adams - 7.5: Bournemouth's best player on the day. He scored their only goal with a composed finish. His passing was impressively accurate at 95%. He battled hard in midfield against superior opposition. A fantastic all-round performance that deserved more.

Marcus Tavernier - 5.0: A very quiet and ineffective performance. He struggled to make any impact on the game whatsoever. He lost most of his duels and offered no threat going forward. It felt like he was a passenger for large periods. A really disappointing showing from our perspective.

Antoine Semenyo - 6.0: He showed flashes of what he can do. He had a couple of long-range shots that tested the keeper. However, his decision-making was poor at times. He gave the ball away too often in good positions. A frustrating performance with little end product.

Forwards

Eli Kroupi - 5.5: He was isolated for most of his time on the pitch. He had a couple of half-chances but never really looked like scoring. He struggled to hold up the ball and bring others into play. It was a thankless task against a dominant defense. He was substituted just after the hour mark.

Manager

A. Iraola - 6.0: His team showed great character to equalize. However, his defensive setup was questionable from the start. They were too easily opened up by City's attack. His substitutions didn't change the course of the game. A tough day at the office against one of the league's best.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Haaland