Frank Christian
ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — Kevin De Bruyne will take the pitch at the Etihad Stadium for the last time as a Manchester City player, as Bournemouth visits to kick off a crucial final week of the Premier League season for the fallen champions.
A loss to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final ensured that Pep Guardiola will lead a season without a major domestic trophy for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign. Nonetheless, the qualification for the UEFA Champions League still rests with City, despite their disappointing 0-0 draw against relegated Southampton ten days ago.
Currently, they sit in sixth place, tied on points with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest. The fact that a draw could elevate the hosts to third place via goal difference highlights the intense competition for positions in the top five.
Bournemouth handed City their initial defeat in the Premier League this season back in November and took an early lead in the FA Cup quarterfinal before City rallied to claim a 2-1 victory.
The spotlight will primarily be on De Bruyne during the match and the post-game ceremony, as he prepares for his 284th and second-to-last Premier League match in City colors. He has tallied 72 goals and 118 assists, contributing to six English titles among other accolades.
The Sporting News is providing live updates and commentary for the Manchester City vs. Bournemouth match
Real-time updates | Team news and lineups | Where to watch in your area
Score: Man City vs. Bournemouth
| Before the game | Scorers | |
| Man City | — | |
| Bournemouth | — |
Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Stay updated on every match and every goal through SN’s live Premier League scoreboard
Starting Lineups:
Man City (4-2-2-2, left to right): Ederson (GK) — Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol — Silva, Kovacic — De Bruyne, Gundogan — Haaland, Marmoush
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1, left to right): Kepa (GK) — Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez — Cook, Adams — Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier — Evanilson
Live updates, highlights, and commentary for Man City vs. Bournemouth
1 hour before kickoff: Bournemouth makes two changes. Justin Kluivert replaces the injured Alex Scott as anticipated, and Julian Araujo steps in for Adam Smith on the right side.
1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: Kevin De Bruyne leads City, with Rodri returning to the bench after recovering from his ACL injury against Arsenal last September. Nathan Ake and Oscar Bob are also among the substitutes, while Guardiola has chosen a seasoned and compact midfield, featuring Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Mateo Kovacic.
Your City lineup
XI | Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Marmoush, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Rodri, Foden, Bobb, O’Reilly#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/QHqeRw1vzw
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 20, 2025
1 hr 40 mins before kickoff: This will mark Kevin De Bruyne’s concluding Manchester City appearance at the Etihad Stadium. Anyone following a football live blog might find it intriguing to compare his starting lineup for De Bruyne’s first full Premier League match for City at this venue, which included club legends like Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, and Fernandinho, with a somewhat disorganized defense that contributed to West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s squad in September 2015. De Bruyne netted one goal that day, the first of his 108 goals for the club.
Man City vs. West Ham 2015 (4-2-3-1, left to right): Hart (GK) — Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov — Fernandinho, Yaya Toure — Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling — Aguero
2 hours before kickoff. Welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola’s squad aims to rebound from their draining defeat to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final, with their Champions League qualification still at stake.
Kickoff time for Man City vs. Bournemouth
The match is set to begin in Manchester at 8 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that translates to key time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Tue, May 20 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Tue, May 20 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| UK | Tue, May 20 | 8:00 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Wed, May 21 | 6:00 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Wed, May 21 | 1:30 a.m. IST |
Team news and lineups for Man City vs. Bournemouth
Kevin De Bruyne‘s illustrious decade-long tenure at City is approaching its conclusion this week, barring an unexpected decision to appear in the FIFA Club World Cup. This will certainly be his last match in the sky-blue jersey at the Etihad Stadium. Despite playing a full match at Wembley on Saturday, the seasoned playmaker will start alongside long-time teammates Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
Mateo Kovacic missed out on joining him in the midfield at Wembley after Guardiola mentioned that the Croatia international was not feeling “perfect,” and it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to return.
City has not found the net in 180 minutes since Erling Haaland returned to the starting lineup, but the Norwegian forward is expected to lead the attack, likely supported by Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku. Phil Foden is expected to start on the bench once again as he recovers from an ankle ligament injury.
Man City lineup (4-2-2-2, left to right): Ederson (GK) — Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol — Silva, Kovacic — De Bruyne, Gundogan — Haaland, Marmoush
Man City substitutes: Ortega (GK), Ake, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Rodri, Foden, Bobb, O’Reilly
Alex Scott is in recovery after having surgery for a broken jaw and joins Enes Unal (knee), Ryan Christie (groin), Dango Ouattara (adductor), and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) on the list of players that coach Andoni Iraola will likely miss in the final week.
Justin Kluivert is expected to be in the starting lineup, looking to boost his impressive total of 10 away goals in the Premier League this season. Main striker Evanilson has netted five times in his last five away games and has scored twice against City this season.
Dean Huijsen is anticipated to start in defense, even after signing a contract to join Real Madrid at the end of the current season.
Bournemouth formation (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kepa (GK) — Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez — Cook, Adams — Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier — Evanilson
Bournemouth substitutes: Dennis (GK), Senesi, Brooks, Smith, Soler, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry, Akinmboni, Winterburn
Live Broadcast for Man City vs. Bournemouth TV Channels
Here’s how to view this Premier League clash in major regions around the world:
| Region | Television | Online Streaming |
| USA | USA Network | Fubo, NBC Sports platform |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky GO, Now TV |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema |
