Pep Guardiola's Manchester City scored six goals against Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth. And none of them were from their leading scorer, Erling Haaland, who was substituted at half-time. The Norwegian, second in the voting for the Ballon d'Or, crashed the ball several times against the wood and was slow in finishing. This was not the case with Jérémy Doku. The Belgian winger scored the goal that opened the scoring before providing four assists.
Although he tried, Iraola could not avoid City's steamroller. His option with five defenders and four midfielders held City for half an hour. He forgot the pressure on a team that is comfortable with the ball. It was a matter of time and precision.
Haaland did not have it, as he crashed into the woodwork and Julián Álvarez's header to the center appeared at the far post. But City, with Rodri in charge, increased the pace, wearing down the rival by moving the game to the left side where Doku appeared, or Walker broke in or a quality action from Bernardo Silva, the right one.
Rodri himself tried to knock down the wall with two shots from outside the area. And it was when he teamed up with Doku, the clear winner in the fight against Grealish, that City decided the match. The wall on the front ended the definition of the Belgian's accurate right hand.
All of Bournemouth's resistance collapsed in seven minutes in which they received three goals in one fell swoop. With Doku as the protagonist. Bikes to drive Mepham crazy and pass back to the arrival of Bernardo Silva in second. A shot that deflected into the net, accidentally, Akanji for the third.
As if that were not enough, Iraola's team lost Scott due to injury. Everything against at the Etihad and the desire for the game to end. Because he made things worse. Especially when Haaland was able to run for the first time with spaces, to the pass of Julián Álvarez. The Norwegian was imprecise in his left-handed control and slow when shooting. Zabarnyi jumped on him and saved the fourth.
It would come in the second half, when Bournemouth, no longer under the pressure of the first act, tried to make up their image. He had more ball and advanced lines. The award came quickly, with a goal from Solanje, but was annulled by Christie's incorrect position before his assist.
The City felt so superior that it dropped several gears. Even Guardiola, not a fan of numerous changes, moved the bench quickly. Haaland did not jump in the second half and the proximity of the Champions League became more important. But in the best minutes of Iraola's team it was difficult for him to collect the prize, the crossbar repelled a shot from Solanke and his rival did not forgive when he had the opportunity. Doku, of course, faced up and put it to Foden for his left-footed goal at will.
The goal of honor would come with Sinisterra's quality in the definition. He killed a cross from the right with his left foot, cut back with his right foot and crossed the ball to Ederson. The match could have ended in that action, but the hunger of City's substitutes increased the rout. Bernardo Silva took advantage, running a clear counterattack to define with magic, chipping the ball in the fifth and Aké put the finishing touch by finishing off the only assist that did not have Doku's signature.
6 - Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones (Lewis, m.71); Rodrigo (Phillips, m.71), Kovacic; Bernard Silva (Bobb, m.86), Julian Alvarez (Nunes, m-72), Doku; y Prophecy (Foden, m.46).
1 - Bournemouth: Radu; Aarons, Mepham, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez; Christie, Scott (Rothwell, m.44), Billing, Tavernier; y Solanke (Kluivert, m.85).
Goals: 1-0, m.30: Doku. 2-0, m.33: Bernardo Silva. 3-0, m.37: Akanji. 4-0, m.64: Foden. 4-1, m.74: Sinisterra. 5-1, m.84: Bernardo Silva. 6-1, m.89: What.
Referee: C. Pawson. Booked Billing (32) for Bournemouth.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the eleventh day of the Premier, played at the Etihad before 53,358 spectators
