Manchester City are keeping pace with league leaders Liverpool in the title race. However, the Sky Blues struggled in their second 1-0 win in a row at Bournemouth. In the end, a strong moment from the trio of Kovacic, Haaland and Foden was enough
Liverpool had taken the lead in the title race during the week with a 4-1 win over Luton Town. Manchester City wanted to follow suit in Bournemouth, but struggled from the start. The Cherries, who had been without a win in six league games (0/3/3), put up a good fight – and offered the Sky Blues little space to combine. The first keeper to intervene was Manchester’s Ederson, when he saved a fluttering ball from Kerkez (10′).
Nevertheless, the favorites, with Aké, Kovacic and Matheus Nunes replacing Walker, Bobb and Alvarez from the 1-0 win over Brentford, took the lead with their first really good opportunity. Haaland shook off opponent Senesi after a Kovacic chip, keeper Neto could only deflect the powerful shot forward from an acute angle and Foden dusted it off (24′).
Cherries sniff at an equalizer
Bernardo Silva quickly had the chance to add to his tally (27′), but City never really got going. Foden’s further attempts (39th, 44th) were more in the “harmless” category. The last chance of the first half even belonged to the hosts, but Ederson saved a powerful long-range shot from Christie (45.+4).
In the second half, the underdogs were even more uncomfortable. The south-west English side continued to keep the visitors’ possession confined to the danger zone and became increasingly bold going forward. However, Tavernier failed to hit the ball perfectly twice (55′, 59′) and Ederson just scraped a Solanke header off the line (67′).
In the closing stages, however, the treble winners regained their composure and kept the Cherries, who repeatedly appeared in the final third, at least outside their own penalty area. Haaland missed the decision from an acute angle (75′), before Kovacic had shot from distance next to the goal (71′).
Enes Ünal misses 1:1
The goal almost went begging, but substitute Enes Ünal missed the equalizer at the far post with a header that would have been deserved (90.+1).
As a result, Bournemouth are still waiting for their next win, while ManCity close the gap on league leaders Liverpool and remain one point behind the Reds in second place
Bournemouth face an FA Cup round of 16 tie against Leicester City on Tuesday (8.30pm), while in the league they have an away game at Burnley this weekend (March 3, 2pm). Manchester City also face Luton Town in the FA Cup on Wednesday (9 p.m.), followed by the derby against Manchester United on Sunday (4.30 p.m.).
