Manchester City go top of the league after 4-0 stomping Bournemouth

Manchester City lined up with only one change from their opener against West Ham. The change is Jack Grealish who hit the bench for Riyad Mahrez to make a start in the game.

Bournemouth made two changes from their winner against Aston Villa on opening day, benching Solanke and Billing who made way for Christie and Cook.

Coming into this game, City were heavy favorites to win the game. Bournemouth are newly promoted into the Premier League, whereas City have won four out of the last five Premier League titles.

As expected Manchester City took control of the game with just a level above Bournemouth in skill.

It took Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City’s hero from last season, 19 minutes to open the scoresheet with a shot rolling into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 31st minute, De Bruyne received the ball in the right side of the midfield and carried it to the edge of the box where he sent a beautiful outside-of-the boot shot into the back of the Bournemouth net, making the score 2-0 to the Champions.

Only a few minutes after kickoff, City received the ball again and they managed to get it to their young superstar Phil Foden where he was able to make it 3-0 to the Blues.

The first half ended with the inevitable already happening, City dissembling Bournemouth.

Substitution rule

City were the only team to make a half-time change, bringing on £100m signing Jack Grealish to replace Foden.

Guardiola doesn’t normally make changes until later on in the game, but this season a five substitution rule was brought into the game which could be the reason for the switch.

The second half began slow for both teams with not many chances for either side, Bournemouth having no way back into the game and City comfortablky holding onto their lead.

In the 63rd minute, both teams made a double substitution, City bringing on John Stones and Bernardo Silva for Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan. Bournemouth introduced Junior Stanislas and Phillip Billing for Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie.

Another substitution was made in the 75th minute, which saw megastar Erling Haaland come off for new signing Alvarez.

This seemed to be the right decision by the City bench as only three minutes later a goal went the City way with a deflection from a Cancelo cross going into the defenders own net.

That was the last piece of action in this game, ending the game 4-0, which showed the difference between newly promoted side Bournemouth and defending Champions Manchester City.

Manchester City’s next game is on the 21st of August at St James Park against Newcastle.