Manchester City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Premier League Matchday 1 · Sunday 23 August 2026 · Etihad Stadium, Manchester · referee J. Gillett · full time
Full time: Manchester City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City won 2-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth in Premier League Matchday 1 on Sunday 23 August 2026. The goals: Marcus Tavernier 26', Marc Guéhi 84', Josko Gvardiol 90+1'.
How Manchester City won it
Marcus Tavernier put AFC Bournemouth ahead in the 26th minute, set up by Evanilson. Manchester City levelled at 1-1 in the 84th minute through Marc Guéhi, set up by Rayan Cherki. Manchester City turned it round: Josko Gvardiol made it 2-1 in the 90th minute (+1), set up by Rayan Cherki. There was no time to answer it.
It was 0-1 at half-time, and the second half turned the match the other way.
The lead changed hands once.
The referee, J. Gillett, showed 3 yellow cards: 1 to Manchester City and 2 to AFC Bournemouth.
Manchester City: E. Maresca, 4-2-3-1 · AFC Bournemouth: M. Rose, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.57 for Manchester City and 2.13 for AFC Bournemouth.
Manchester City scored about 1.4 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
AFC Bournemouth left about 1.1 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.
AFC Bournemouth created the better chances, 2.13 xG to 0.57, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Manchester City had 6 shots on target, AFC Bournemouth 4.
Manchester City had 66% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Manchester City came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 2.6 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 2.00 expected goals for and 1.11 against, and had won 100% of their matches.
AFC Bournemouth came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 1.2 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 1.52 expected goals for and 1.23 against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth: the match in numbers
| Manchester City | Match statistics | AFC Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| 66% | Ball possession | 34% |
| 0.57 | Expected goals (xG) | 2.13 |
| 13 | Total shots | 5 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 4 |
| 4 | Big chances | 1 |
| 658 | Total passes | 344 |
| 89% | Pass accuracy | 78% |
| 8 | Corners | 3 |
| 11 | Fouls | 11 |
| 2 | Offsides | 1 |
| 15 | Tackles | 16 |
| 3 | Saves | 4 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 2 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), rated 7.8 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Manchester City
- Marc Guéhi 7.8 1 goal
- Rayan Cherki 7.7 2 assists
- Josko Gvardiol 7.5 1 goal
- Phil Foden 7.2
- Rúben Dias 7.1
AFC Bournemouth
- Marcus Tavernier 7.4 1 goal
- Justin Kluivert 7.3
- Djordje Petrovic 7.0
- Alex Scott 6.9
- Evanilson 6.9 1 assist
The lowest-rated starter was Rico Lewis at 6.1. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Manchester City: Liverpool vs Manchester City Sunday 11 October 2026 · Premier League
- AFC Bournemouth: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth Saturday 10 October 2026 · Premier League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
What was the score in Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth?
Manchester City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth (half-time 0-1), Premier League, Sunday 23 August 2026.
Who scored in Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth?
Marcus Tavernier 26', Marc Guéhi 84', Josko Gvardiol 90+1'.
Did Moneyball predict Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth?
Marc Guéhi, rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth?
J. Gillett.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.