Manchester City and Pep Guardiola suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 Premier League season as they came up against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Even though Guardiola had earlier announced that his squad is suffering from several injuries, the intensity and drive from Andoni Iraola‘s men earned them their first ever win over City.
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for the hosts from a well worked team goal as he beat Ederson on the turn. The Brazilian goalkeeper did extremely well to keep his side in the game until the second half, when Evanilson got on the end of a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Ederson could only watch on as his improvised finish found its way into the bottom left corner.
Trailing 2-0 down, City were given a ray of hope from a headed goal courtesy of Josko Gvardiol. The goal scoring defender bagged his third goal of the season in the competition. Phil Foden then came close to equalizing in the final minutes, although his shot went agonizingly inches wide of the post.
Bournemouth beat Man City for the first time ever in the Premier League 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SBg4Rwryr3
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 2, 2024
With the final whistle, Bournemouth claimed a hard-earned three points which helped them move up to eighth in the table.
Pep Guardiola makes injury EXCUSE as lack of ‘intensity’ costs City first loss this season
Manchester City were beaten for the first time by AFC Bournemouth as City fell 2-1 at the Vitality. Following the game, an unimpressed Pep Guardiola spoke to the press as he highlighted what his side lacked on the night. Following the loss, Guardiola also confirmed the injuries of two more players: John Stones and Ruben Dias.
He then spoke of star man Kevin De Bruyne, with his assessment of the Belgian hinting at a step in the right direction.
We couldn’t match their intensity. We couldn’t train due to injuries. We couldn’t handle their intensity and that’s why we lost.
Pep Guardiola told the press via Hayters TV
Pep Guardiola admits @ManCity “could not handle” @afcbournemouth this afternoon 😳
🔗 https://t.co/mUTxZ8IO8v pic.twitter.com/pPxYglQOGr
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) November 2, 2024
As things stand, City have crashed out of the EFL Cup and dropped down to second in the League table. With 23 points from 10 games, they are two points behind Liverpool and five points above Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal.
City play their next game against Ruben Amorim‘s Sporting in the UCL before playing Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
