Match report and highlights as Man City beat Bournemouth 4-0 at the Etihad; first half goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden put the hosts in control; the champions added a late fourth thanks to Jefferson Lerma's own goal
Sunday 14 August 2022 17:01, UK
Man City sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the Premier League after brushing aside Bournemouth 4-0 despite big-money new signing Erling Haaland failing to score.
The Premier League champions produced a blistering first 45 minutes at a sun-drenched Etihad Stadium, going in 3-0 ahead at half-time thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan (19), Kevin De Bruyne (31) and Phil Foden (37).
Despite taking their foot off the gas in the second period, there was still time for Pep Guardiola's side to add a late fourth through Jefferson Lerma's own goal.
Haaland, however, was replaced after having just eight touches of the ball during his 74 minutes on the pitch, although his manager was quick to defend the Norwegian after the game.
"He plays the most difficult job in the world," Guardiola said of the 22-year-old. "When you are a striker and in the defensive areas, teams like Bournemouth have three central defenders and two players in front and you are in the middle, how can you survive in that?
"It's so difficult. We know it. We'll find many situations. It's just a question of time. The right moments, the right movements, and with the quality of the players we have behind him to assist him we'll find him. I don't have any doubts about that.
"We have seen it in the past with other teams. We have to be patient."
City top the early Premier League table from Arsenal on goal difference as they maintain their 100 per cent start to the season, while Bournemouth are ninth having suffered their first loss of the campaign.
Scott Parker's newly promoted side arrived in Manchester having won their opening fixture of the season last weekend, but also expecting a long afternoon's work, and that is how it played out for the Cherries.
The hosts took just 19 minutes to make the breakthrough, although in truth it would have come sooner were it not for some poor City finishing and an inspired Mark Travers in the visitors' goal.
But when it did finally arrive, the floodgates opened as first Gundogan fired the champions ahead after being set up by Haaland, who did well to hold off the attentions of two Bournemouth players in a tight space on the edge of the area, before slipping the German through on goal.
One became two just past the half-hour mark after a lovely solo goal by De Bruyne, who cut in from the right flank and then found the corner of the net with a delightful curler using the outside of his foot.
Six minutes later it was game over as Bournemouth made the mistake of trying to attack their opponents, only to lose the ball with too many players forward, with predictable consequences as seconds later Travers was once again picking the ball out of his net.
On this occasion, the twinkle-toed Riyad Mahrez picked out De Bruyne's run down the left and the playmaker then sent Foden through on goal, although Travers will be disappointed he did not keep out the forward's close-range effort.
Guardiola swapped his England internationals with Jack Grealish replacing Phil Foden at the break, but in the baking Manchester sun, the home side played at a reduced tempo, no doubt conscious of greater challenges to come this season.
However, there was still time for a fourth with 11 minutes to go as Grealish's lofted pass sent Joao Cancelo free to the left byline and after cutting back inside, the full back's low-driven cross was diverted into his own net by the outstretched foot of the unfortunate Lerma.
Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:
Big things are expected of new Man City striker Erling Haaland this season and the striker made the perfect start to his career with the Premier League champions by scoring twice on his debut at West Ham last Sunday.
That double strike whetted people's attitudes for what the Norway forward could achieve this season, with Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson predicting ahead of kick-off with Bournemouth the 22-year-old will score 25 goals this season.
And with the newly predicted Cherries next up for Haaland on his home debut, many were expecting the frontman to score a hatful in the Etihad sunshine on Saturday, but it did not quite work out that way.
Haaland set up Ilkay Gundogan's opener in the 4-0 win, but could not take two chances of his own and was frustrated when Phil Foden failed to pick him out for what would have been an easy tap-in early on.
Haaland's 19th-minute assist was his first touch of the game, and a 73rd-minute scuffed shot from a Jack Grealish cross moments before he was replaced by Julian Alvarez only his eighth of the match, but his movement pulled the Bournemouth defence apart to create the space for others.
"He plays the most difficult job in the world," Guardiola said of the 22-year-old. "When you are a striker and in the defensive areas, teams like Bournemouth have three central defenders and two players in front and you are in the middle, how can you survive in that?
"It's so difficult. We know it. We'll find many situations. It's just a question of time. The right moments, the right movements, and with the quality of the players we have behind him to assist him we'll find him. I don't have any doubts about that.
"We have seen it in the past with other teams. We have to be patient."
Guardiola: It was not easy for so many reasons today
Man City boss Pep Guardiola:
"The team did a really good performance against a team that is well structured defensively and offensively as well with good patterns.
"They defend so deep, so narrow, you have to go outside. We started really well with three or four corners after just six or seven minutes, lots of chances. Phil did not see Erling in that position but we were patient.
"It was a warm day. It was not easy for so many reasons but we make a really, really good performance."
Parker: I'm pleased how the team stuck at it
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker:
"We played against a world-class team that can execute in any given moment.
"I said before the game we need to have 11 men with 10 out of 10 performances and to ride our luck, we're going to have to take the very few chances we're going to get along with every other team that comes here.
"You have to be clinical. We didn't manage to do that and then the quality they have shone through.
"After the goals go in you could be on the end of one, but I was pleased with the team in the way they stuck at it with good endeavour, good personality and good courage. We can be pleased with that.
"Our season is not this. Man City away is not a team that will define our season. This is a game we need to analyse of course and we'll do that and see where we can improve and get better. We'll dust ourselves down and go again."
City's brilliant playmaker barely got out of second gear on Saturday afternoon, but was still head and shoulders above everyone else on the field at the Etihad.
The Belgium international's goal was a real thing of beauty, bending an effort into the bottom lefthand corner of the net with the outside of his foot having cut in from the right, while he also set up Phil Foden as City raced into a 3-0 half-time lead.
And if the 31-year-old - who looks refreshed after a rare summer free of football - carries on in this vein of form this season, and stays fit, then the champions will be hard to stop.
City face Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday August 21 (4.30pm), while Bournemouth host Arsenal the previous day (5.30pm), with both games live on Sky Sports Premier League.
