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MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 AFC BOURNEMOUTH: FULL MATCH ANALYSIS
- Mohamed Fathalli
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Manchester City leapfrogged Bournemouth in the league table to move into second place, six points behind Arsenal. If you had read that sentence two or three seasons ago, you’d probably think you were hallucinating. That’s proof of just how chaotic this Premier League season has become. A campaign dominated by long balls, set pieces, and throw-ins.
Coming up against a notoriously high-pressing side like Bournemouth, many would have expected Guardiola to follow the trend, go direct, and bypass Iraola’s press. After all, he’s shown before that he’s willing to adapt when needed. However, while there were flashes of directness in City’s play, this game served as a timely reminder of just how good a Pep Guardiola team can be when they lean on their structure, patience, and technical control.
There’s no hiding the fact that Bournemouth are one of the best pressing sides in the Premier League. As shown by data from the Markstats website, they rank fourth for Opponent Danger Possession Lost and third lowest for Opponent Pass Completion in Buildup %. This indicates that they consistently force opponents into dangerous mistakes and disrupt their buildup play by keeping pass completion rates low.
They typically employ a 4-4-2 hybrid pressing scheme, with the two strikers aiming to force play down one side. This triggers an intense man-to-man press in that area, supported by the midfielders and the ball-side full-back, while the opposite winger tucks inside to protect the central space. That’s exactly what Iraola tried to implement against Manchester City early in the game.
Kroupi and Tavernier took turns initiating the press, moving from outside to inside when Donnarumma or the centerbacks had the ball to force City wide. From there, Scott, Adams, and the ball-side winger and full-back supported the press centrally, while the players on the opposite side focused on defending space.
However, to press effectively in a man-to-man system, the pressing players must clearly know their designated opponents; otherwise, confusion can arise, especially without clear communication. Perhaps that’s where Pep Guardiola saw his opportunity.
In an era dominated by direct football, Manchester City remained intent on preserving their record as the Premier League’s least direct side, with only 463 long balls according to Fbref. Against Bournemouth, they attempted just 26 long balls out of a total of 482 passes. They didn’t aim to bypass Bournemouth’s high press once it was triggered, or at least, not immediately.
Pep positioned Gvardiol and Dias split around Donnarumma, though they stayed narrow inside the box. Both full-backs pushed wide and high, with Nunes taking up a slightly higher position. Meanwhile, Foden, Nico González, and Bernardo Silva occupied the three central lanes. The idea was to create a 5-v-4 numerical advantage against Bournemouth’s second pressing line, which briefly became 5-v-3 as they transitioned into their high man-to-man press. This is what made it look like Bournemouth players were late or poorly positioned as City executed their passes while Iraola’s side was caught between the phases.
That extra man, and the accompanying space and time, allowed City to play around Bournemouth’s first waves of pressure and then look to find Doku, Cherki, or Haaland to hold up play or run into space.
This wasn’t a rigid structure by any means, as City also looked to play through the grain of Bournemouth’s press both vertically and horizontally. In this sequence, for example, Silva and Foden positioned themselves in close proximity on the left to draw more Bournemouth players to that side. From there, Foden used the outside of his foot to switch play against the incoming pressure and find Dias, who in turn picked out Haaland with a first-time pass.
In another sequence, Nico González received the ball with pressure coming from behind but still managed to turn, drive against the incoming player’s momentum and play O’Reilly on the left-hand side.
Although the first goal could be considered a transition, there were still clear signs of Manchester City’s plan to counter Bournemouth’s press.
Dias cleared the ball, Foden headed it on, and Haaland laid it off to Nico. Yet, notably, no City player immediately sprinted forward. Instead, Nico G took a few seconds on the ball before finding Cherki, who lingered in space to draw the backline out, exactly what created the opening for Haaland who also delayed his run perfectly, timing it only once Nico played the pass.
This patient approach, combined with City’s technical quality and the timely movements of players like Doku and Cherki, who dropped deep to drag their markers, forced Bournemouth to tone down their press and defend in a 4-4-2 mid-block. However, City still managed to pick them apart.
Looking at the passing map below, you can see the narrow positioning of Foden, Doku, and Cherki, three technical players with the ability to drive past defenders or pick out teammates with precise passes all within close proximity. The question is: how would City access them?
First, Nico González’s performance in possession deserves credit. The 23-year-old midfielder consistently found options between the lines with accurate, perfectly weighted passes. He also didn’t shy away from taking players on or escaping tight situations. So, tactics aside, the Spaniard’s ability to both progress and retain possession was a major factor in how City accessed their most threatening players.
Structurally, City achieved this by having Bernardo Silva and Nico González take turns dropping between the centre-backs to overload Bournemouth’s first pressing line. Meanwhile, Cherki and Doku tucked inside, and both full-backs held the width. This positioning made it more difficult for Bournemouth’s wide players and full-backs to decide whether to stay wide or follow City’s attacking midfielders inside.
To add further confusion, O’Reilly occasionally inverted, helping maintain City’s central numerical advantage and allowing players like Foden to make runs in behind, stretching the distance between Bournemouth’s defensive lines.
City, on the other hand, didn’t wait for Bournemouth’s players to make up their minds or resolve the confusion. Once the midfield trio was reached, through Nico, Silva, or one of the centre-backs, quick, first-touch combinations followed to move the ball and exploit gaps. This was exactly what led to the second and third goals.
In the sequence leading up to City’s second, you can see how Bournemouth’s players were pinned by O’Reilly and Cherki and dragged away by Doku. The rapid combinations left Bournemouth’s back line no chance to contain the overload, instead forcing them to chase and exposing the space in behind.
City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth was a refreshing watch for anyone who thought the Premier League had become all about direct football. Even against one of the best pressing sides in the division, City kept their intent to progress through the lines, and did so successfully. While Bournemouth stayed aggressive, City’s structure and technical quality allowed them to play both around and through pressure, constantly finding solutions across the pitch.
Their use of rotations, quick combinations, and positional discipline perfectly summed up their approach. Nico González was key between the lines, linking play and helping City reach their most dangerous players, while Doku, Cherki, and Foden stretched Bournemouth’s shape and created space for others to exploit.
The result lifts City to second in the Premier League with 19 points, six behind Arsenal. And with performances like this, you can’t help but wonder, are Guardiola and his men back in the title race?
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