Manchester City's remarkable unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to a halt as they struggled to overcome the physical demands of the game. Their 32-match unbeaten run in the league ended with a whimper, as they visibly tired against a Bournemouth side brimming with energy and confidence. For once, City were outmatched.
Bournemouth were nothing short of brilliant, and their victory was fully deserved, thanks in large part to Antoine Semenyo's dazzling performance. Semenyo left Kyle Walker, City's captain, in a state of disarray, showcasing his superior skills. Walker, to his credit, had answered the call despite being far from fully fit. City's starting lineup, though formidable, concealed the extent of their injury woes. The bench included Kevin De Bruyne, who hadn't played since September, and Savinho, who had been stretchered off in midweek. Neither player was brought on, even as the game grew desperate.
Bournemouth were intent on catching City off guard. They attacked from the outset, with Ederson forced to make a spectacular double save from Semenyo and Justin Kluivert before the scoring even began. Milos Kerkez then surged past a sluggish Phil Foden, setting up Semenyo, who spun past Josko Gvardiol and beat Ederson with a clinical shot. Bournemouth's dominance was fully justified, and City's midfield struggled to cope with the relentless pressure.
Erling Haaland's lone burst of brilliance was a rare highlight for City. Pep Guardiola, pacing the sidelines with crossed arms, appeared frustrated. Andoni Iraola, a coach tipped to succeed Guardiola, was equally animated. Beating Guardiola was a historic moment for Bournemouth, who had never previously defeated City in 21 meetings. The last time they took points off City was in 1999, in the third tier, under Joe Royle's management.
As the game progressed, Bournemouth continued to dominate. Kerkez made a crucial block to deny Bernardo Silva, and Haaland's attempt to turn and shoot ended with him rolling his ankle. Bournemouth's passing sequence at the end of the first half was a testament to their control. Few teams have ever so thoroughly outplayed City's midfield.
In the second half, Bournemouth continued their fast start. Semenyo controlled a long ball, but Evanilson forced Ederson into another save. Signs of a City revival began to emerge, but Walker, struggling with Semenyo, was constantly advised by the sidelines and eventually switched to center-back. Tempers frayed when Lewis Cook took out Haaland, but the striker eventually resumed play.
Bournemouth's rearguard action at the hour mark suggested a one-sided game, but a devastating counter-attack saw Semenyo once again outpace Walker, setting up Kerkez, whose low pass found Evanilson, who hooked the ball home. Marcus Tavernier hit the inside post, adding to the tension. Travers failed to clear Gvardiol's header, setting up a tense final 10 minutes.
Jérémy Doku's dribbling added to the chaos, and Travers made another save from Haaland. The striker hit the woodwork with his follow-up, and Foden's shot went wide. The champions, ragged and exhausted, could do no more.
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